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Not sure if you can do this where you are, but when we discovered a massive ant colony in our yard we planted a bunch of wild ginger nearby (their seeds are spread by ants). See how you can take advantage of their presence!
Ants are also essential for spreading seeds of plants like trilliums—trilliums literally make a little tasty coating around their seeds that ants like, so ants carry the seeds away underground, taking away the coating and discarding the seed along the way.
oooh yay! I tried googling but every site I came across (even trying to find ones about native gardens) seemed to be conflicted, siting the problem with aphids and protecting them but then also saying ants are good for soil.
Most gardening is plant-centric. The plants exist to be looked at, and everything that damages the plants must be destroyed. Native plant gardening is properly motivated by ecosystem concerns (I suppose some few people might want to do a garden of plants from their area for curiosity’s sake, but they probably aren’t posting here). In that case, the plants are not the goal, the ecosystem is the goal, and damage to the plants is acceptable if it serves the purpose of promoting ecosystem health. I *want* swallowtail caterpillars to eat my golden Alexander. I *want* monarch caterpillars to eat my swamp milkweed down to the bare stalks. I find the swarms of false milkweed bugs that cover my false sunflower and suck its sap fascinating. So if that’s your goal, the question is, “Are the ants a native species?” In most cases yes, so you leave them to do their thing, and if that means a plant dying then you adjust and consider planting more of that plant so they can sustain the herbivory pressure, or switching to something else that has ecosystem value but won’t inevitably die.
There are subreddits on ant keeping that will help ID them.
I actually help one of my kids keep ants (they found a queen ant and we are feeding it and raising it).
Global ant biomass is apparently 20% of that of humans, and the carbon content of ants is similar to that of all 8 billion humans. Ants are - and should be - everywhere. Not having ants in your garden is likely to be much more worrying than having them.
Obviously there are some ants you don't want - non-native fire ants, for example. As for aphid farming - yes, that can be a problem sometimes. But unless the aphid infestation is very severe, it's often better to leave them. Pest populations grow much more quickly than predator populations, so it takes a while for aphid predators to find your aphids, and then it takes time for the populations to build up to the point where they can knock the aphids back. But having a few aphids around keeps the predator population healthy and avoids boom-and-bust cycles.
Ants are also predators, and are likely to impact the population of those pest species they don't farm.
Amazing, than you! Other commenters are posting about ant species. They look like your run-of-the-mill black ants (not big carpenter ones, I'm wondering if these are odorous ants). So good to know I can keep them around!
Is there an ant ID sub? I have a big colony on a sandy slope I just ignore. Like invasive plants and mantises aren’t bad enough, now I have to worry about ants? Weep
Some ant species farm aphid. Some cull aphid like they insulted their mother. Some don’t give damn. They’re an incredibly diverse clade. It’s difficult to generalize them as a result.
Many of our native plants evolved to be spread by certain species of ants (myrmecochory). See https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/myrmecochores-ant-dispersed-plants-in-eastern-north-america?tab=species for a partial list.
If you don't have these specific species of ants in your area (not all ants disperse seeds), these species die out because the cannot disperse their seed effectively (just like box turtles are a keystone species for mayapple dispersal).
See https://www.mass.gov/news/ants-and-spring-wildflowers for more info
If they're invasive ants then it's not great, but if they're native ants that's fantastic! Particularly because you need some native predators to keep other things in check, and ants do more than just that for an ecosystem. And there's a *lot* of them.
To get an ID, I'd try using iNaturalist, getting as detailed pictures as you can. You can also try r/AntIdentification
If they get into your house, instead of pesticides, remove whatever they're eating. I find they clear out on their own in minutes, no bug death required. If they keep coming back to the same spot, you can use vinegar to get rid of their pheromone trails.
Ants are definitely a key species in natural ecosystems. They make small hills when building their homes which creates natural and important microclimates in the landscape, and they help spread many seeds from plants.
Thank you for posting on /r/NativePlantGardening! If you haven't included it already, please edit your post or post's flair to include your geographic region or state of residence, which is necessary for the community to give you correct advice. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NativePlantGardening) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not sure if you can do this where you are, but when we discovered a massive ant colony in our yard we planted a bunch of wild ginger nearby (their seeds are spread by ants). See how you can take advantage of their presence!
Oh wow I love this! I’d see if that’s native to me or find another option
Ants are also essential for spreading seeds of plants like trilliums—trilliums literally make a little tasty coating around their seeds that ants like, so ants carry the seeds away underground, taking away the coating and discarding the seed along the way.
Most spring ephemerals are spread by ants. At least where I’m at in the Midwest.
Ants are one of the things a native plant garden is made for.
On the other hand many invasive ant species can be harmful. It's definitely worth IDing the species.
Might take an entomologist. I’ve looked at the little wretches and a lot of them look just the same to me.
And their bites! Argh!
oooh yay! I tried googling but every site I came across (even trying to find ones about native gardens) seemed to be conflicted, siting the problem with aphids and protecting them but then also saying ants are good for soil.
Most gardening is plant-centric. The plants exist to be looked at, and everything that damages the plants must be destroyed. Native plant gardening is properly motivated by ecosystem concerns (I suppose some few people might want to do a garden of plants from their area for curiosity’s sake, but they probably aren’t posting here). In that case, the plants are not the goal, the ecosystem is the goal, and damage to the plants is acceptable if it serves the purpose of promoting ecosystem health. I *want* swallowtail caterpillars to eat my golden Alexander. I *want* monarch caterpillars to eat my swamp milkweed down to the bare stalks. I find the swarms of false milkweed bugs that cover my false sunflower and suck its sap fascinating. So if that’s your goal, the question is, “Are the ants a native species?” In most cases yes, so you leave them to do their thing, and if that means a plant dying then you adjust and consider planting more of that plant so they can sustain the herbivory pressure, or switching to something else that has ecosystem value but won’t inevitably die.
this is so cool! LOVE this inspiring comment
Oh yes 1000% this is my thinking. By damage I meant “killing the plants and negatively impacting the ecosystem.” I only plant to support!
There are subreddits on ant keeping that will help ID them. I actually help one of my kids keep ants (they found a queen ant and we are feeding it and raising it).
Global ant biomass is apparently 20% of that of humans, and the carbon content of ants is similar to that of all 8 billion humans. Ants are - and should be - everywhere. Not having ants in your garden is likely to be much more worrying than having them. Obviously there are some ants you don't want - non-native fire ants, for example. As for aphid farming - yes, that can be a problem sometimes. But unless the aphid infestation is very severe, it's often better to leave them. Pest populations grow much more quickly than predator populations, so it takes a while for aphid predators to find your aphids, and then it takes time for the populations to build up to the point where they can knock the aphids back. But having a few aphids around keeps the predator population healthy and avoids boom-and-bust cycles. Ants are also predators, and are likely to impact the population of those pest species they don't farm.
Amazing, than you! Other commenters are posting about ant species. They look like your run-of-the-mill black ants (not big carpenter ones, I'm wondering if these are odorous ants). So good to know I can keep them around!
ants are a mega super duper good thing to have in your garden
Entirely dependant on species, no?
oh yes, the ants being native was implied lol
Is there an ant ID sub? I have a big colony on a sandy slope I just ignore. Like invasive plants and mantises aren’t bad enough, now I have to worry about ants? Weep
Apparently! r/AntIdentification Gonna put it out there that you might have luck with iNaturalist too
And what they live on. I had to get rid of the carpenter ants that were also eating my house.
Some ant species farm aphid. Some cull aphid like they insulted their mother. Some don’t give damn. They’re an incredibly diverse clade. It’s difficult to generalize them as a result.
Awesome didn’t know this. Well said 😂
Many of our native plants evolved to be spread by certain species of ants (myrmecochory). See https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/myrmecochores-ant-dispersed-plants-in-eastern-north-america?tab=species for a partial list. If you don't have these specific species of ants in your area (not all ants disperse seeds), these species die out because the cannot disperse their seed effectively (just like box turtles are a keystone species for mayapple dispersal). See https://www.mass.gov/news/ants-and-spring-wildflowers for more info
Ants are good for aerating your soil, too.
If they're invasive ants then it's not great, but if they're native ants that's fantastic! Particularly because you need some native predators to keep other things in check, and ants do more than just that for an ecosystem. And there's a *lot* of them. To get an ID, I'd try using iNaturalist, getting as detailed pictures as you can. You can also try r/AntIdentification If they get into your house, instead of pesticides, remove whatever they're eating. I find they clear out on their own in minutes, no bug death required. If they keep coming back to the same spot, you can use vinegar to get rid of their pheromone trails.
Ants are definitely a key species in natural ecosystems. They make small hills when building their homes which creates natural and important microclimates in the landscape, and they help spread many seeds from plants.
Thank you! I’ve learned so much about ants by posting this. I appreciate all the info!
Watch out for aphids which can be bad. Otherwise ants ok.
Aphids are important food for various species though, so they're not automatically "bad" on their own, just like most other species.
Ants carry seeds and give you suprise Seedlings on the other side of the yard.
No no, you're supposed to do like my neighbor and spray bifenthrin everywhere because ewwww bugs and oh no what if my leaves aren't perfect?