Lately I've noticed that flies come inside buildings because they can't stand heated temperatures. I believe ants have an anthill where they came from, and not in our house where they belong.
2006-07-10 07:01:44 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
Insects are poikilothermic meaning that their body temperature is influenced and very similar to the surrounding temperature around them. Most insect do not function well at high temperatures, just like humans, the insect body can over heat. If they are too active during these periods, they can die from heat exhaustion. Elevated temperatures denature proteins in the body and affect motor neurons and cause a sort of miscoordination among the body parts. So, just like us, they will seek whatever shelter they can find to beat the heat! Good question, I hope that helped!
2006-07-10 08:53:05 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Insects are ectothermic, meaning that their body temperature is regulated by external stimuli. When it gets too hot for many ectotherms to tolerate, they will find some form of shade to hide under until temperatures drop to a more manageable level. That is why mosquitoes are more active during dusk than other times of the day.
Hot air only adds to their thermal regulation issues, so many insects such as ants and flies would try to remain as shaded as possible until the heat died down.
2006-07-10 14:28:13 · answer #2 · answered by icehoundxx 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Insects have upper and lower tempature limits like we do. But much broader. On the low end, their metabolism shuts down. On the upper end, biological chemicals start to come apart and they die. Like flies trapped in a hot window.
Bees will defend their hive from wasps by "dogpiling" on them and buzzing wildly to pump up their own heat. The heat is enough to kill the wasp (which is too immune to the bees' sting).
-David
2006-07-10 14:24:34 · answer #3 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humidity and Higher Temperature cannot be tolerated by insects because they cannot regulate their body temperatures in a way us human do.
Have you ever seen an ant perspire?
2006-07-10 14:22:27 · answer #4 · answered by King of Hearts 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I accidentally steam-ironed an anthill once- Many of the ants died... I had to clean my iron.
(long story)...
2006-07-10 14:05:55 · answer #5 · answered by User 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually that's when they all come out. It's during cold weather that they are dormant, I think.
2006-07-10 14:08:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋