Assess your expertise in ant biology and behavior

The body color of odorous house ants ranges from dark brown to shiny black. Photo: ©Gene White

An electrifying attraction

When you see numerous ants in switch boxes, circuit breakers and transformers, do you wonder whether they have an attraction to electricity? Research suggests that foraging ants randomly wind up in these locations and get shocked when they come between live electrical contacts. The release of pheromones attracts additional ants in numbers that may clog equipment and cause it to malfunction.

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Cooperative Extension Resource

Answers to March Tech Test

1. True, 2. d, 3. True, 4. d, 5. False, 6. True, 7. d, 8. True, 9. d, 10. True