Are Ants Bad For Plants?

Ants aren’t inherently bad for plants. In fact, they’re usually beneficial for them.

They provide plants with many benefits including the following:

Soil aeration
Fertilization
Seed dispersal
Protection from pests

However, that’s not to say that ants can’t damage plants as well. Ants can damage plants through their daily activities. Tunneling, for example, can loosen soil and uproot plants.

In this article, we’ll learn more about how ants are both good and bad for plants as we discuss the following:

How ants benefit plants
How ants hurt plants

We’ll also look into a few methods you can follow to control ant populations in your plants or garden.

are ants bad for plants — Image by Beverly Buckley from Pixabay

How Ants Benefit Plants

Ants play a significant role in maintaining the balance of our environment. [1] They develop mutualistic relationships with other organisms and help plants through the following:

Soil Aeration

Many ant species make their nesting colonies underground. They dig and create tunnels in the soil which allow the air to penetrate.

This activity aerates the plants’ root systems for better oxygen penetration. It also lets water in and provides roots with better access to moisture.

Soil Tillage and Fertilization

Through their tunneling efforts, ants also allow till the soil. As they dig, they turn all the nutrients and pebbles over to the topsoil.

Furthermore, the food they bring into their underground nests also fertilizes the soil.

Seed Dispersal and Pollination

Ants are one of the best in the business when it comes to seed dispersal. They would often scatter and distribute plant seeds as they forage.

They also act as pollinating agents of flowers. They transfer pollen that sticks to their body as they visit flowers for nectar.

Pest Control

Ants can be effective biological control agents for plant pests. As predators, ants feed on various pests like mosquitoes, bugs, and moths.

They also repel other insects through pheromones which warn pests of their presence.

Why are Ants Bad for Plants?

Most ants don’t cause harm to plants. They don’t usually eat them and just come to plants for nectar without causing any damage.

However, there are a few ways that ants can damage plants. These ways are as follows:

Direct Damage

Some ants can harm plants directly. These ants include the following:

Leafcutter Ants: Bites, cuts down, and collects leaves to cultivate their fungal gardens

Fire Ants: Feeds on the stems and flowering buds of vulnerable plants. Known to damage vegetables. [2]

Formica neorufibarbis: Chews on the base of the pistil to collect nectar. Causes dislodged pistils and negatively affects seed production. [3]

Mutualism with Pests

Ants like to form relationships with organisms that benefit them. Sometimes these organisms happen to be plant pests.

These pests feed on plants and can cause stunted growth and deformation. They may also transmit plant virus diseases.

For example, ants develop mutualistic relationships with aphids. In exchange for honeydew, they tend to these aphids and protect them from predators.

Aside from aphids, ants also form similar relationships with mealybugs and scales.[4]

These relationships increase pest populations and the likelihood of your plants getting damaged.

Aggressive Behavior

Ants can deter other beneficial insects from plants. For example, they can be extremely aggressive and attack bees or other pollen vectors. In doing so, they negatively affect seed dispersal.

Tunneling

While usually beneficial, too much tunneling can end up harming plants. Instead of just aerating the soil, ants can loosen up soil to the point of uprooting plants.

Tunneling can also lead to ant mounds. These mounds destroy grass root structures and kill grass.

How to Get Rid of Ants in Your Plants or Garden

Ants can become a nuisance. Thus, it’s understandable that you’d want to get rid of them. But, you wouldn’t want to eliminate them entirely either.

Remember that while ants can be pests, they also provide benefits. As such, ecologists suggest that keeping a healthy population is ideal.

Here are a few methods you can use to control ant populations in your plants or garden:

Get Rid of Aphids and Other Pests

Removing temptation is a must. Get rid of aphids and other pests that produce sweet secretions. These pests attract ants to your plants.

More importantly, they feed on plants directly. So even without ants, they can cause significant damage.

You can remove these pests by wiping or spraying them off with soapy water.

Use Natural Repellants

Some plants excrete chemicals that naturally deter ants. These plants include peppermint, lavender, and catnip. You can opt to plant these in your garden to help prevent infestation.

You can also use readily available kitchen spices such as cayenne and cinnamon. Sprinkle some of these spices around your garden to keep ants away.

Keep Soil Wet or Moist

Ants don’t like moist or wet soil. They find it heavy and difficult to navigate. Therefore, you can keep them away by wetting your soil every now and then.

Just don’t overwater and drown your plants.

Diatomaceous Earth

Known as DE, diatomaceous earth is a chalky powder made from diatom shells. It’s a non-toxic pesticide used to control ants and other pests.

To use it, sprinkle it around your plants or where the ants gather. These may include the soil surface, the base of the plants, and wherever else you need.

Be sure, however, to use food-grade DE as filter-grade ones are toxic to humans and pets.

Summary

Ants can be either good or bad for plants. They’re good in that they provide plants with many benefits. They help keep soil healthy, and with dispersal.

However, they’re also bad as they can cause damage to plants. Some ants feed on plants while others cut down their parts for later use. They can also cause the infestation of plant pests.

Are Ants Bad For Plants?