How long can an ant survive under water?

Question

How long can an ant survive under water?

Answer 1

drop one in and find out

Answer 2

Insects are coated with an oil that permits them to breath through their skin.  When you submerge one in water the oil changes the surface tension of the water and a bubble surrounds the insect.  Each time you submerge the insect the bubble is a different size so how long it lives is highly variable. If you include soap in the water it will wash off the oil and the ant will survive only a few minutes.