All About Ants: A Pollinator Spotlight
Ants are often overlooked, yet are extremely important parts of our ecosystem! While ants are typically viewed only as destructive and irritating pests, they serve a critical role for supporting both plant and animal life! Native ants around around North Alabama (and, nationwide of course) help improve the quality of our soil, disperse seeds, and even pollinate flowers! We’ll talk about the humble ant, what a “bad ant” looks like, and what we can do to ensure our native ants in Alabama are well and thriving!
The Ants of Alabama (And Beyond)
Ants, funnily enough, are considered natural "engineers," which is fitting given that areas like Huntsville in North Alabama have the highest engineers per capita. Their role in the ecosystem is somewhat unique - they ultimately are responsible for ecosystems being more habitable and biodiverse. The Ants accomplish this function by building deep, and far stretching nests. With their expansive networks of small tunnels, these nests actually help to loosen and aerate the soil! This soil composition is extremely important, as if you read our Rain Garden blog, you’ll know that aerated and loose soil absorbs more water, making it much easier for plants to grow.
Ants also spread the pollen and seeds of many different plants! Did you know that some plants have even evolved to support ant pollination?
Native ginger is one such example - our ginger plants have developed small flowers over time that are low to the ground and produce thick nectar. This nectar then attracts the ants that can spread the pollen of the plant! Other examples of these evolutions can be found within the Trillium species. They coat their seeds in thick, sugar-rich shells, which in turn, requires ants to move them and "plant" them.
Some ants can even farm! Ants have been recorded cultivating beneficial fungi for food. It’s obvious that ants are a fantastic and critical part of our ecosystem - but if ants are so important, why are they so often associated with destruction?
The Ants of Wrath
If asked to think about ants, the average person probably pictures a small black body wreaking havoc and destruction. This is actually a case of conflating two types of ants! The destructive (and, unsavory) ants are actually fire ants.
Fire ants are an incredibly common invasive species. They continue to expand their range every year, growing their networks extensively. Fire ants are known for their large, unsightly, above-ground mounds that kill the grass around your yard. In addition to looking unpleasant, these mounds (and the ants themselves) are causing untold damage to your local ecosystem as they expand and then compete with our native ants for resources. If you’ve ever been bit by a fire ant, you’ll know that they win that competition, choking out our native ant friends.
Fire ants are easily distinguished by the characteristic mounds they build. They also visually have small, bright orange bodies with black abdomens. Fire ants, while harmful, can be confused with pyramid ants, another native ant species. Native pyramid ants often look yellow-orange on their bodies and have a black, striped abdomen. They typically build small, doughnut shaped mounds over vast areas.
The most reliable way you can distinguish and ant as harmful or native is simply mound shape! So, what do you do when you identify a “bad ant”?
A fire ant mound, courtesy of Dr. Blake Layton with the Mississippi State University Extension Service
Invasive Ant Control
Native ants are very important for the ecosystem, but invasive ants cause a lot of trouble. They’re unpleasant and destructive, and it comes as likely no surprise that you should try to eradicate them from your yard. But, how do you get rid of ants you don't want, while helping to support the ants that are beneficial? Simple - we use a targeted approach! Any of the following options, especially when used together, will ensure your unwanted ants aren’t around to destroy the ecosystem further.
Ant Bait: The most effective way to control non native ants are commercial ant baits. While chemical pesticides are often frowned upon, when used correctly, they are some of our best tools in the fight for conservation. Fire ants are extremely territorial (which comes as no surprise if you’re in North Alabama and have stepped in a mound) and will aggressively defend their area. Sprinkling a bit of ant bait within 2-4 feet of their mound has the highest success rate of eradicating this species without inhibiting other insects. Ensure you don’t place the bait directly on the mound, as the ants may reject the bait since they’re that territorial.
Dish Soap: A mixture of dish soap and water poured directly on the mound is effective as well. The dish soap coats and sticks to the ants. Since insects breath through their skin, this coating is a reliable way to “alleviate” some of your pest concerns. Be aware that this method will likely require repeated treatments, as it will take time and effort for the soap to cover enough ants, and eventually, the queen.
Diatomaceous Earth: A favorite amongst organic gardeners, Diatomaceous earth shreds the ants’ exoskeleton. By coating the mound in it, the earth is an effective way to remove firmly established colonies. Like the dish soap, this will require multiple applications over time as it’s not super reliable. It is also possible that ants will simply move their mound before the treatment can ever take effect.
Understanding the important role that native ants play in our ecosystem helps us utilize the natural systems that exist already to aid our gardens. By creating habitats for native ants, you can help keep them away from your home while enhancing the ecological impact of your garden.
