wzl46 t1_iydhb9l wrote on November 30, 2022 at 4:19 PM

Reply to comment by LetDuncanDie in Formic acid could be a simple urinary biomarker for Alzheimer's disease, as levels of the acid in the urine correlate with cognitive decline. by molrose96

Move to central North Carolina and accidentally step in a fresh fire ant hill that formed last night. The ants will happily get as much formic acid into your body as possible.

Lexx4 t1_iydly3y wrote on November 30, 2022 at 4:50 PM

> fire ant

I am 100% aware you are joking but I love to flex my knowledge about ants so:

Fire ants inject a toxic alkaloid venom called solenopsin, a compound from the class of piperidines.

atridir t1_iydy0aa wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:07 PM

It is some species of wood ants that spray formic acid as a defense mechanism against predators.

I just found out that it is also found in the trichomes of the stinging nettle plant too. Explains a lot.

Lexx4 t1_iyem2n7 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 8:41 PM

Formica sp. kind of on the nose with that one.

[deleted] t1_iydmmsl wrote on November 30, 2022 at 4:54 PM

[removed]

Wawgawaidith t1_iydsssv wrote on November 30, 2022 at 5:34 PM

Any chance on an ELI5 here?

Atleastitsnottaken t1_iye4qmh wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:49 PM

Huh?! Could you explain this please?

AChoiceWasMade t1_iye7qmz wrote on November 30, 2022 at 7:08 PM

ELI5 means explain like I’m 5. :) it’s a subreddit, too.