Booze and biting ants...

So we are over run with asian needle ants.  I usually sustain dozens of stings while digging potatoes, but last year I didn't, despite plenty of them obviously present.  Then I saw a report on ant bites and their reliance on odor to identify their targets.  Then I remembered imbibing several barley sodas (pandemic and all) the night before said potato digging.  Only thing I could think of is the resulting metabolites oozing through my pores the next morning.  Could it be?  Might have to repeat the experiment this year;)

This is an excellent field report. The data is of course preliminary, but I have come to suspect that barley soda, applied liberally but responsibly, acts as a lubricant that solves many problems, provided that we keep notes. Do the ants agree? I believe further research is required.

In my professional opinion, I do believe that this anecdotal evidence is substantial enough to come to a scientific conclusion. Let us ere on the side of caution and take several doses of barley soda before, during and after exposure to potentially dangerous insect bites. 😂

I respectfully disagree. There is clearly need for a peer review.  A blind and possibly double blind study is in order.  

I say a peer review.  I have never imbibed……sorry…. sampled for scientific study purposes Barley soda.  I think we should have a test group of people from different areas of the US; send out samples off Barley soda and accurately record the responses of any species to our stinky selves the next day.

I’m in the PNW.  I can record the responses of a number of insect and animal species to barley soda.

What is it by the way?

I recently read that barley soda was being offered as a reward for those who chose to be vaccinated. One good jab deserves another! Perhaps we can piggyback our research on the work that is already being done.

What is it? I think it might be barley malt fermented till it gets, like, soda bubbles.... Sounds weird, but I might like it.

I’m in