This is a weird question but everyone else could smell these, right? Like a weird bitter, musty smell. That post about people smelling ants a while back made me wonder what other bugs not all people smell.
They excrete ammonia through their exoskeleton because they don’t actually pee! I’ve only noticed a smell from them when they’re in large groups. They may be a bit smelly, and a lot of people mislabel them as insects, but they’re actually terrestrial isopods and are related to crabs and shrimps!
Certain ants are pretty distinct. Thatch ants spray formic acid as a defense, and will have a sour smell (and taste, or so I’ve been told). Odoriferous house ants are named so for obvious reason, and smell (to me) like pen ink. Assuming they taste terrible, but I dunno anyone who’s tasted one.
Also, for what it’s worth, my entomologist father refers to the thread’s subject as “sow bugs”, so that’s how I know them, but pill bugs and rolly polly are common here.
That’s very interesting. I can’t smell ants at all and [threads subject] smell like dirt to me (I assume because they live in dirt)
Thanks for explaining!
This is a weird question but everyone else could smell these, right? Like a weird bitter, musty smell. That post about people smelling ants a while back made me wonder what other bugs not all people smell.
They excrete ammonia through their exoskeleton because they don’t actually pee! I’ve only noticed a smell from them when they’re in large groups. They may be a bit smelly, and a lot of people mislabel them as insects, but they’re actually terrestrial isopods and are related to crabs and shrimps!
Welp, that explains why the Netherlands calls these bugs “bedpissers”
Yeah they smell like stinky wood/almonds to me.
Isn’t almonds also the scent reported by those genetically-equipped to smell cyanide?
Not me! Do you smell ants? I think it’s a genetic trait.
Certain ants are pretty distinct. Thatch ants spray formic acid as a defense, and will have a sour smell (and taste, or so I’ve been told). Odoriferous house ants are named so for obvious reason, and smell (to me) like pen ink. Assuming they taste terrible, but I dunno anyone who’s tasted one.
Also, for what it’s worth, my entomologist father refers to the thread’s subject as “sow bugs”, so that’s how I know them, but pill bugs and rolly polly are common here.
That’s very interesting. I can’t smell ants at all and [threads subject] smell like dirt to me (I assume because they live in dirt)
Thanks for explaining!
I’ve never noticed an ant smell, if I had to guess I’d assume it’s some different chemical I’m picking up on from the pill bugs.
I think so! I love them but I haven’t smelled them. What’s your stance on cilantro? I love genetic smell/taste traits.
I’m a soap-taster, unfortunately, but it smells really good to me! I just wish it tasted like it smelled
I don’t think it is, but I wonder if it’s related?! Neat!
I wish it tasted to you like it does to me :c I LOVE cilantro!
Doesn’t ring a bell. Earwigs have a distinct smell, though.