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Ants in the Garden: Getting Antsy!

ant hill with 4 ants on it, cartoon, ants in the garden

The Surprising Benefits of Ants

George and Becky Lohmiller
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Ants are among the most successful of insects, outnumbering all other individual animals combined. They have been around since the days of the dinosaurs and inhabit just about every corner of Earth. Their presence in nature is essential to the well-being of the garden and environment. See why â€¦ 

The total ant population is estimated at one quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000). Wow!  

Ant Colonies

Ants live in colonies made up almost entirely of non-mating female workers whose job is to gather food, build the nest, and look after the egg-laying queen and her young. At certain times, winged males and females are produced by the queen for the purpose of mating with ants from other colonies. After mating, the male ants die, and the mated queens fly off, shed their wings, and start new colonies.

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The Benefits of Ants

Although some species, like the carpenter ant and the stinging fire ant, can be pests, ants are generally beneficial.

  • Most ants nest in the ground, digging a labyrinth of tunnels that aerate the soil and allow moisture to get to the roots of plants. They also till the soil by bringing pebbles and particles to the top
  • The leaves and insects brought into the nest as ant food decay and fertilize the surrounding plants.
  • Ants act as decomposers, feeding on organic waste, insects, or other dead animals.
  • Even carpenter ants keep the environment clean. By making their nests in dead or diseased wood, they accelerate the decomposition process. After the ants leave, fungi and bacteria grow in the galleries and break down the lignin and cellulose on large surfaces.
  • Many ants are predators and feed on insects that attack lawns and gardens, and in the process of gathering food, they often pollinate flowers and distribute seeds.
  • Ants are also the source of food for many other insects, birds, and mammals so important to the ecosystem.

What Ants Indicate

A sudden convergence of ants in the garden, or a line of ants moving up and down a tree, usually indicates the presence of aphids, mealybugs, or other sap-sucking insects that attack plants. These insects produce a substance called honeydew:

  • The ants stroke the insects with their antennae, causing the insects to excrete the sweet liquid.
  • The ants swallow it and store it in a special holding stomach called the crop.
  • The honeydew is brought back to the nest and shared with the queen and other workers.
  • Some ants even keep aphids in their nest as a farmer would keep a cow, giving them food and shelter in exchange for honeydew.

So, if you have ants on your plants, be on the lookout for aphids or other sap-sucking pests!

Did you know?

In some cultures, ants are considered delicacies. The honey-pot ants that live in our southwestern deserts gather large amounts of nectar and store it in the swollen bodies of specialized worker ants called repletes. Native Americans have snacked on these sweet ants for centuries, making them possibly the first ones ever brought to a picnic on purpose.

Do you have ants in your garden? Tell us all about your experience in the comments!

Pollinators and Beneficials
About The Author

George and Becky Lohmiller

George and Becky Lohmiller shared their gardening knowledge and enthusiasm with Almanac readers for more than 15 years, writing Farmer’s Calendar essays and gardening articles in previous editions of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Read More from George and Becky Lohmiller
 

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Comments

Don Stewart (not verified)

1 week 2 days ago

Twenty or so years ago, I found a colony of fire ants in my tomato patch (actually, they found me). They had set up shop in the roots of a particular plant, so I chose not to try to dig them out or poison them. Two days later, I noticed the 'infested' plant was twice as big as the others, darker green, and flowering. I guessed that the ants were aerating and fertilizing my tomato, and decided to leave them alone. After a couple of weeks, they moved on to a new location.

Now I welcome ants of any kind into my garden. Their presence indicates a healthier system, happier plants, and less work for me.

Rachel (not verified)

1 week 4 days ago

What about Fire ants? What do they help? They get in my flower pots etc? Thank you

I have shared my garden with fire ants for years. We peacefully coexist, with me getting the benefit of aerated soil, fewer pest insects, and free fertilizer. I've even used them to help excavate an old oak stump, scooping the colonies up from other parts of the yard and depositing them in areas of the stump that were already decomposing. As long as I respect their space, they respect me. After a few weeks, they move on to other locations.

I have been scattering used coffee grounds over my entire yard and shrub and flower beds for years. I have eliminated red ants from my lawn entirely. It does keep the squirrels away somewhat. It also repels most other ants. I dry them out in the filter on an aluminum pie plate, then when dry put them in a bucket. When I have a good amount I scatter them around my yard.

Kate (not verified)

1 week 4 days ago

Yes, I have fire ants in my garden! No, I do not see them as a benefit! I. Do not use pesticides in my garden but have found club soda causes the colony to die or move away.

Sandra (not verified)

1 week 4 days ago

I live on a 1/2 acre in rural Ontario, Canada. I have zillions or tiny red fire ants. Doesn't matter where you look or turn a shovel in my 1/2 acre , there are ants. They bite me and the fire in a bite is extreme. Only an ice pack will ease the pain til it subsides. They don't bite my husband !!!! I can no longer kneel down and work in my flower beds. Even walking across my yard, I find them on my shoes and clothing and end up getting bitten if I don't get them brushed off fast!!!!! I have tried so many things but nothing seems to deter them. I am hoping someone here has a solution. I would so love to be rid of them!!!!!

Betsy Weber (not verified)

3 years 11 months ago

I have tried Everything to get rid of the ants in my garden. They live in the roots of my plants. I live on a sand prairie in Wabasha MN. It doesn't matter how much mulch I add to my garden they always bring the sand back up to the surface. I'm giving up on this war with the ants....

Anne (not verified)

2 years 9 months ago

I've noticed Ants are more prolific during certain seasons; they also are affected by the weather; I left my garden ants alone; they went away on their own;