Why do insects like ants die when you put soapy water on them?

The soap clogs their pores and suffocates them. There are even special insecticidal soaps sold at nurseries for this purpose, because mixing dish detergent with water and dousing a plant can burn the plant leaves and cause more damage than insects.

Other weird things that kill bugs -- I live in Florida, we will do anything to kill a roach -- are hair spray and WD-40.

it could be that they breathe through their skin, soap clogs the breathing apparattae and makes them suffocate,or it could be the caustic chemicals in the soap that kills them.I learned that after washing the car on the lawn,worms will come out of the gruond when the soapy water soaks in.I hope someone can give a better answer for this.Good question!

You sir are a (insert a bunch of words that you can't on YA) idiot...

Chemical. Duh, why don't you try putting soap in your eyes. Or better yet, try eating soap.

duh it has chemical