{"id":2228,"date":"2021-12-07T14:48:46","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T06:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/?p=2228"},"modified":"2023-09-19T20:13:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:13:09","slug":"are-ants-beneficial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Ants Beneficial? 8 Important Benefits Of Ants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Yes, ants are beneficial. In fact, ecologists consider them to be a keystone species. They contribute largely to environmental diversity, productivity, and nutrient and energy flow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll look into how ants are beneficial as we discuss the benefits they provide. We\u2019ll also look into the flip side of things as we touch on some cases wherein ants become pests instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-beneficial-b-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"are ants beneficial\" class=\"wp-image-3288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-beneficial-b-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-beneficial-b-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-beneficial-b-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/are-ants-beneficial-b.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/nghangvu-13510079\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4463156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Nghang V\u0169<\/a> from <a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=4463156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Benefits_Of_Ants\" title=\"Benefits Of Ants\">Benefits Of Ants<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Aerate_and_Till_Soil\" title=\"Ants Aerate and Till Soil\">Ants Aerate and Till Soil<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Fertilize_the_Soil\" title=\"Ants Fertilize the Soil\">Ants Fertilize the Soil<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_are_Pollinators\" title=\"Ants are Pollinators\">Ants are Pollinators<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Help_with_Seed_Dispersal\" title=\"Ants Help with Seed Dispersal\">Ants Help with Seed Dispersal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Help_Control_Pests\" title=\"Ants Help Control Pests\">Ants Help Control Pests<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Serve_as_Food\" title=\"Ants Serve as Food\">Ants Serve as Food<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Clean_the_Environment\" title=\"Ants Clean the Environment\">Ants Clean the Environment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Ants_Help_Recycle_Nutrients\" title=\"Ants Help Recycle Nutrients\">Ants Help Recycle Nutrients<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Disadvantages_of_Ants\" title=\"Disadvantages of Ants\">Disadvantages of Ants<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Aggressive_Behavior\" title=\"Aggressive Behavior\">Aggressive Behavior<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Contamination\" title=\"Contamination\">Contamination<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Plant_Damage\" title=\"Plant Damage\">Plant Damage<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Wood_Damage\" title=\"Wood Damage\">Wood Damage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Should_You_Get_Rid_of_Ants\" title=\"Should You Get Rid of Ants?\">Should You Get Rid of Ants?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-beneficial\/#Summary_Are_Ants_Beneficial\" title=\"Summary: Are Ants Beneficial?\">Summary: Are Ants Beneficial?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Benefits_Of_Ants\"><\/span>Benefits Of Ants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are quadrillions of ants around the world. So while one ant may not make much of a difference, in the quadrillions they&#8217;re bound to make an impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sich is why ants scientists consider ants to be <strong>ecologically important<\/strong>. They are in fact, often used as a sign of ecological health. They provide the environment with the following benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Aerate_and_Till_Soil\"><\/span>Ants Aerate and Till Soil<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many ant species dig and tunnel underground to build their nests. In doing so they aerate the soil which allows for <strong>better air and water penetration<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, their tunneling efforts also help in tilling the soil. They help bring nutrients and pebbles to the topsoil.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Fertilize_the_Soil\"><\/span>Ants Fertilize the Soil<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As ants forage, they naturally bring organic matter underneath the soil. When these organic matters decompose, they become natural fertilizers that <strong>nourish the soil<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_are_Pollinators\"><\/span>Ants are Pollinators<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-pollinators-b2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-pollinators-b2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-pollinators-b2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-pollinators-b2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/are-ants-pollinators-b2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants are frequent visitors of plants and flowers for nectar. In these visits, pollen naturally attaches to their bodies. Ants may then transport them to other flowers and help with germination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, research has shown that <strong>some plants are regularly pollinated by ants<\/strong>. These include <em>Polygonum cascadence<\/em> and <em>Conospermum undulatum<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See this article to learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-pollinators\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2129\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ants as pollinators<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Help_with_Seed_Dispersal\"><\/span>Ants Help with Seed Dispersal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants are a major force in seed dispersal. There are <strong>more than 3000 species of flowering plants dispersed by ants<\/strong>. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/24996901\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.jstor.org\/stable\/24996901\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is mostly due to the mutualistic relationship that plants develop with ants. Some plant seeds produce fleshy structures called elaiosomes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These elaiosomes are rich in lipids and proteins and work great as ant lures. Ants eat them without damaging the seed, and therefore significantly help with dispersal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Help_Control_Pests\"><\/span>Ants Help Control Pests<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While sometimes pests themselves, ants help with pest control. They\u2019re natural <strong>predators of many different pests<\/strong> like mosquitoes and other bugs. In fact, farmers often use ants to protect their crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Serve_as_Food\"><\/span>Ants Serve as Food<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants aren\u2019t the only ones doing the eating. They also <strong>serve as food for many animals<\/strong> such as birds, mammals, and other insects. Even we humans consume them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Clean_the_Environment\"><\/span>Ants Clean the Environment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-cockroaches-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2832\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-cockroaches-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-cockroaches-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-cockroaches-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/do-ants-eat-cockroaches-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Ants_feeding_on_cockroach.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Muhammad Mahdi Karim<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.gnu.org\/licenses\/old-licenses\/fdl-1.2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">GFDL 1.2<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As decomposers, ants consume and break down organic waste and dead matter. In doing so, they <strong>help prevent waste from piling up and stop the spread of disease<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ants_Help_Recycle_Nutrients\"><\/span>Ants Help Recycle Nutrients<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As ants break down organic waste, they also help recycle nutrients. They m<strong>ake these nutrients available to producers<\/strong> which then provide for other consumers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disadvantages_of_Ants\"><\/span>Disadvantages of Ants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the many benefits they provide, ants can also become a nuisance. Here are some disadvantages of ants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aggressive_Behavior\"><\/span>Aggressive Behavior<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants like the ever notorious, fire ants can be quite aggressive. This aggressiveness can <strong>force out other animals or alter their behavior<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bees, for example, have learned to avoid plants that smell of ants. This in turn, negatively affects floral visitation and seed dispersal. [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-021-83902-w#Sec8\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-021-83902-w#Sec8\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even we humans aren&#8217;t safe from ant aggression. Aggressive ants will bite or sting us when we get close. In fact, there are many documented cases of deaths caused by aggressive ants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contamination\"><\/span>Contamination<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants are one of the cleanest insects in the world. However, they may sometimes <strong>carry pathogens that cause disease<\/strong> and contaminate our food. These pathogens include <em>E.coli<\/em>, <em>Shigella<\/em>, and <em>Salmonella<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See this article to learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-dirty\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2197\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ant cleanliness<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Plant_Damage\"><\/span>Plant Damage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ants can damage plants in a number of ways. These ways include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Direct Damage: <\/strong>Some ants bite down and physically harm plants. Leafcutter ants, for example, cut down leaves for their fungal gardens.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Tunneling:<\/strong> While tunneling can help aerate the soil, too much can be detrimental. As ants tunnel, they may eventually loosen the soil to the point of uprooting plants<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pest Mutualism:<\/strong> Ants form mutualistic relationships with plant pests like aphids. They protect these pests from predators and allow their population to grow. These pests directly feed on plants and negatively affect plant growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>See this article to learn if <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/are-ants-bad-for-plants\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2035\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ants are bad for plants<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wood_Damage\"><\/span>Wood Damage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/what-are-wood-ants-2-1024x536.jpg\" alt=\"carpenter ants coming out of wood\" class=\"wp-image-2879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/what-are-wood-ants-2-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/what-are-wood-ants-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/what-are-wood-ants-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/what-are-wood-ants-2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a number of ants known to infest wood. These include carpenter, moisture, and velvety tree ants.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These ants damage wood as they build their nests. They carve through wood to create tunnels and galleries to live in. When left unchecked, they may <strong>cause significant damage similar to termites<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read this article to learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/do-ants-eat-wood\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2574\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wood-infesting ants<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_You_Get_Rid_of_Ants\"><\/span>Should You Get Rid of Ants?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It depends. As established, ants can either be beneficial or disadvantageous. Therefore, it will be up to you to determine if you need to get rid of ants or not.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I personally, wouldn&#8217;t unless they become pests. I&#8217;ll only try to <strong>get rid of them when they cause damage or pose a threat<\/strong>. For example, I would generally get rid of fire ants because they&#8217;re dangerous to my pets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Summary_Are_Ants_Beneficial\"><\/span>Summary: Are Ants Beneficial?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To summarize, ants are beneficial. They provide a number of benefits including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Improve Soil Health<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pollination and Seed Dispersal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pest Control<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serve as Food<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cleaning the Environment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recycle Nutrients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With their vast numbers, ants have a profound impact on the environment. Even with their minute bodies, they help ecosystems thrive and allow even we humans to live.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Yes, ants are beneficial. In fact, ecologists consider them to be a keystone species. They contribute largely to environmental diversity, productivity, and nutrient and energy flow. In this article, we\u2019ll look into how ants are beneficial as we discuss the benefits they provide. We\u2019ll also look into the flip side of things as we touch&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2228"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3746,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228\/revisions\/3746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scifaqs.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}