You’ve undoubtedly ruined your outdoor plans with an invasion of pesky ants. Industrious and clever, these little pests always find their way into our yards and homes.
Some people naturally attract the little buggers and wonder why ants have decided on them as their target. This article explains 9 reasons ants are attracted to you.
Why Are Ants Attracted To Me?
1. Water
Ants, like other living things, need water to survive. So with the summer heat, they are out looking for water for their colony.
Ants drink water and carry droplets on their body back to their colonies to store. That is why you will find them in damp places, like the bathroom and the kitchen.
Ants are attracted to you because they are in search of water. Therefore, if you are in a damp area or near a water source, you might find an abundance of ants, especially during the summer.
2. Sugar
The ants love sugar, which is found in many foods and beverages. They thrive in drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup, other sweet-smelling foods, and food crumbs and spills.
You will likely attract ants if you have sugary foods or drinks. But, seeing one is just the tip of the iceberg, and there are more you don’t see.
You have probably seen an empty discarded soda can covered in ants outside. So naturally, ants will swarm to gather all of the remnants of syrup they can get.
One ant can bring in many ants. So when an ant leaves a scent trail, not only does it help them find its way back to the nest, but it helps other foragers find the path in that direction.
Sugar is the number one ant attractant. Ants love to feast on drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup and other sweet-smelling foods, so clean that up if you don’t want to attract ants.
3. Sweat And Tears
Ants are attracted to human sweat and tears. So sweaty clothes can attract ants into your home or gym bag.
You might be attracting ants because of sweat. Similarly, tears are salty, and ants love the salt. It’s not their first meal choice, but it’s definitely on the menu.
Locker rooms are damp and have a lot of sweat, making them perfect feeding grounds for ants looking for water and salt.
4. Blood
Predatory ants have a keen sense of smell and are attracted to the scent of blood. So if you are bleeding, you might be attracting ants.
Fresh blood attracts ants faster than dried blood. Ants like fresh blood because it contains minerals that stabilize their body fluids.
Ants like both animal and human blood. When blood is spilled, ants will quickly swarm to the area, drawn in by the scent of the proteins.
5. Human Scent
Ants have an exceptional sense of smell, and you don’t have to be sweating to attract them. Your body odor could be attracting ants.
When recognizing body odor, ants are the best at it. Ants can detect body odor based on the chemical pheromones detected through their antennae.
Your natural human scent could be an attractant for ants. For example, if you have noticed ants in your bed, it could combine your scent and sweat.
6. Urine
Like other smelly body fluids, urine also attracts ants. So you might be attracting ants if you have urine on you.
Ants are attracted to the salt and proteins in human and animal urine. The presence of sugars in urine is a bonus for ants.
No doubt, ants are more attracted to urine than other human body smells. However, good hygiene can help prevent ants from being attracted to you.
7. Fruity Or Sweet Scents
Since ants have a phenomenal sense of smell and love sugar, it’s no surprise they are attracted to fruity or sweet body lotions and perfumes.
Ants are attracted to artificial scents you put on your body. So that could be the reason you are attracting ants.
Fruit-scented lotions, body sprays, or other sweet perfumes could attract ants wherever you go.
You might find you can’t even sit on a park bench without encountering ants. Try not to wear fruity smells and see if ants stop coming to you.
8. Food Crumbs
Aside from all the human scents and fluids, food crumbs are a top culprit for attracting ants. The tiniest food crumbs can attract a swarm of ants.
If one ant finds a crumb, it will signal to the others that there’s a food supply nearby. After that, ants will swarm by the hundreds scouting for more food.
This is why ants always ruin picnics. They find the food crumbs and leave their scent trails for other scouts to follow.
They might still find your scent, but if you keep yourself and your belongings free from food crumbs, you won’t be attracting as many ants.
9. Spiritual Reasons
Depending on the context of your ant attraction, ants are either a good or bad omen in some cultures and spiritual practices.
Ants are sent as a sign for you to be grounded. Symbolic of the Earth, ants remind us that we are all connected.
Ants could also be a sign that your chakras are out of balance. Maybe you’re not feeling right and unbalanced.
You are attracting ants as Nature communicates that your root chakra is blocked. Spend time outdoors, in Nature, and unblock your root chakra.
Ants could also be a sign of abundance to come. Ants work harmoniously and live abundant little lives. They take care of each other and are a reminder that abundance is all around.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why fruit flies follow you, why animals mates so fast, and why Petland is so expensive.
Conclusion
Ants are attracted to various things thanks to their incredible sense of smell. So, likewise, ants are attracted to you because of something they smell.
Hopefully, ants are attracted to a scent around you and not to you, but if you find yourself with an ant infestation, it’s time to get help.