As a specialist in entomology, I've spent a considerable amount of time studying the behavior of various insects, including ants. The concept of getting an ant drunk is a fascinating one, and it's a question that touches on several areas of insect physiology, behavior, and even a bit of the history of scientific inquiry.

Firstly, it's important to understand that ants, like most insects, do not have the same relationship with alcohol as humans do. Their physiology is vastly different, and they do not consume alcohol in the same way we do. However, there are instances where ants can be exposed to alcohol, either through their environment or through scientific experiments.

In the natural world, ants may come into contact with alcohol as a byproduct of certain fermentation processes. Some plants, for example, may produce small amounts of alcohol during the fermentation of their nectar or other substances. Ants that feed on these plants could potentially ingest alcohol, but the amounts are typically so small that they would not result in intoxication as we understand it.

In laboratory settings, scientists have conducted experiments to see how ants react to alcohol. These experiments are carefully controlled and are designed to observe the effects of alcohol on ant behavior. It's been observed that when ants are exposed to higher concentrations of alcohol, they can exhibit altered behaviors. For instance, they might become less coordinated or exhibit other signs of intoxication.

The observation that "sober" ants would throw the intoxicated ones into water is an interesting one. This behavior could be interpreted in a few ways. It might be an attempt to help the intoxicated ants sober up, or it could be a form of social grooming or even a response to the altered behavior of the intoxicated ants. It's important to note that interpreting animal behavior can be complex, and what we perceive as one action might have multiple underlying causes.

It's also worth mentioning that the ability of ants to get drunk is not uniform across all species. Different ants have different tolerances to alcohol, and some may be more susceptible to its effects than others. Additionally, the way an ant's body processes alcohol is different from how a human's body does. While humans metabolize alcohol in the liver, ants may process it differently, and the effects can vary widely.

In conclusion, while it's not common for ants to get drunk in the wild, it is possible under certain conditions. The effects of alcohol on ants can be observed in controlled settings, and these observations can provide valuable insights into insect behavior and physiology. However, it's crucial to approach these studies with an understanding of the differences between insect and human responses to alcohol.

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No ant would voluntarily degrade herself by getting drunk, and it was not easy in all cases to hit off the requisite degree of this compulsory intoxication. ... He observed that the "sober" ants would throw the intoxicated ones into water as what may seem an attempt to sober them up. And so, ants do get drunk.Nov 12, 2015read more >>