this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2024
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Science Memes

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feral naming (mander.xyz)
submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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!

[–] zalgotext 6 points 2 weeks ago

Welp, that explains why the Netherlands calls these bugs "bedpissers"

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah they smell like stinky wood/almonds to me.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

stinky wood/almonds

Isn't almonds also the scent reported by those genetically-equipped to smell cyanide?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Not me! Do you smell ants? I think it’s a genetic trait.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] TriflingToad 1 points 2 weeks ago

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!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think so! I love them but I haven’t smelled them. What’s your stance on cilantro? I love genetic smell/taste traits.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I’m a soap-taster, unfortunately, but it smells really good to me! I just wish it tasted like it smelled

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

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!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Doesn't ring a bell. Earwigs have a distinct smell, though.