By Jaden Figueroa

The Big Question:

To find out what natural solutions around the house can be used in place of commercial repellent products. This experiment will make it safer for my family rather than use commercial repellent products which can be harmful to humans and the environment.

Hypothesis:

There are many types of ants. The type of species depends on where you live and the type of habitat they live in. Ants are very different from other insects because they are social animals. This means that ants live in large groups called colonies. The type of ant found is the Pharaoh ant.

There was an experiment done at the California Science Fair to find out if white sage and eucalyptus plants would turn the ants away. The experiment showed that there are plants and other natural resources that will repel ants without the use of commercial repellants. The ants did in fact stay away from the plants.

If lemon juice is giving to the ants I believe they will go away because, lemons are sour.

Hypothesis: Continued

If Tabasco sauce is used I guess they will go away because, it very spicy and burns your mouth.

If vinegar is used the ants will run away because it contains acid. I believe it will destroy the ants.

If sugar water is used, I think the ants will eat it. Ants like to eat sweet things and sugar is sweet.

If peanut butter is used I think they will eat it. Peanut butter has a lot of protein and sweet.

If cucumber parings are used I think they will eat it. Ants like to eat fruit and possibly sweet.

Interesting Research Facts:1.Ants have a good sense of smell. 2.The Ants can carry food twice there body

weight.3.They are attracted to sweet items. 4.Ants organize and communicate quickly in

order to complete a task.5.How many different types of ant species

there are.

Experiment:

Materials Used: 1 White tablecloth 1 Marker 7 Small Dixie cup 2 Wood sticks Instructions for completing the

experiment: I placed the tablecloth on the ground. Then used

a marker to draw 6 circles and label them with 6 different solutions. I pour each solution into a Dixie cup for the experiment. I collect 20 ants with the wood sticks and put them in a cup.

Experiment Observations:

1.All of the ants involved in the experiment were attracted to cucumber parings.

2. It is possible the attraction to the cucumber paring was for the water it contained.

3.The ants were attracted to peanut butter for the protein it contained.

4.Ants are naturally attracted to sugars found in food.

5.Dish soap is fatal to ants.

Data:

Name of Solution Sugar Water

Vinegar Cucumber Parings

Ant Spray Raid

Peanut Butter

Total Number of Ants Trapped in Circle

20 20 20 20 20

Total Number of Ants Escaping Circle

8 20 0 2 0

Name of Solution Tabasco Sauce

Baking Soda

Tabasco Sauce

Dish Soap Lemon Juice

Total Number of Ants Trapped in Circle

20 20 20 20 20

Total Number of Ants Escaping Circle

20 15 20 0 0

Analysis of Data:

Did the experiment test your hypothesis?

Yes, the ants react differently with the different solutions used. The ants were attracted to the cucumber parings.

How do you know? The ants were carrying pieces of cucumber

parings to the colony.

Conclusion:

Out of all of the experiments I have tested most of the ants escaped from the circle. Some of the ants went crazy with the vinegar, and, the baking soda. The rest of the ants did not like the Tabasco Sauce, the commercial Ant Spray-Raid, dish soap, and Lemon Juice.

Was your hypothesis correct?Yes. My experiments was to prove that we can use natural sources that will not harm the ants but can be used a natural repellent.

Conclusion: Continued

Would you change the experiment and why? Yes, I would like to know what type of food and solutions are attracting to them and if they will carry it back to the colony.

What are some new questions you have?How will the ants react with cocoa beans and sunflower kernels? Will they carry pumpkin seed to colony?

Research Resources: NPS, 2003. "Integrated Pest Management Manual:

Ants," National Park Service (NPS). [accessed October4, 2009]

Ross, M., 2006. "Ants and Plants," California State Science Fair (CSSF). [accessed October4, 2009]

Shu, C.V., 2006. "The Defense against Ants," California State Science Fair (CSSF). [accessed October4, 2009]

Segelken, R., 1998. "Cornell News: Ant Recruitment Pheromone," Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. [accessed October4, 2009]

Sohn, E., 2007. "Pothole Repair, Insect-style," Science News for Kids (SNK). [accessed October4, 2009]

Questions: