What ants are garden pests

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Gardeners daily encounter different insects on their site, including ants. In most cases, members of the ant family are beneficial and are considered one of the main orderlies of the forest, but, having settled near a person, they often become a big problem.

Content

Why do ants appear in the garden
What harm can ants do in the garden
What types of ants are found in the garden
Conclusion

Why do ants appear in the garden

Ants are very widespread and meeting a group of working individuals in the garden or on the beds in the garden is a common thing. But, if there are more and more insects every day, then for sure they were attracted by comfortable living conditions. These conditions include:

the presence of old stumps or rotten logs;
heaps of construction debris;

aphid-infested plants;
untimely cleaning of plant residues.

What harm can ants do in the garden

In the wild, ants are beneficial insects that play an important role in the ecosystem. They do a lot useful functions, such as:

loosening and increasing the level of soil acidity;
control of the number of various insects;
processing of residues of plant and animal origin.

But, wildlife is one thing, and comfortable conditions in the beds or trees in the garden are completely different. All the same actions of insects on the site can create problems for gardeners. In the process of housekeeping in the garden, ants can cause serious damage to cultivated plants:

excessively oxidize the soil;
promote the spread of aphids;
infect plants with various infections;
damage seeds, fruits and berries.

Types of garden ants.

What types of ants are found in the garden

The species diversity of the ant family is enormous, and more than 250 different species can be found on the territory of Russia alone. Most insects prefer to stay away from people and live in forest areas, but some species still managed to adapt to life with "two-legged" neighbors.

Red Forest Ant

This is a medium-sized ant and its body length can be from 7 to 15 mm. The abdomen and head of the insect are painted black, and the cheeks, chest and stalk are orange-red. Representatives of this species bring great benefits by destroying pests in coniferous forests. On the territory of garden plots, they are very rare and in small quantities. Red forest ants are listed in the Red Books of many regions of Russia, so they should be dealt with only by humane methods, for example, to relocate the anthill away from the garden.

Ant black garden

The most numerous species that can be found almost everywhere. The body of a worker ant is only 3-5 mm long and is dark brown or black in color. In the garden, their nests may be under rocks, old logs, or rotten stumps. This species is actively engaged in the spread of aphids and is considered one of the most dangerous pests.

yellow earth ant

These are small ants whose body length does not exceed 2-4,5 mm. These insects spend most of their lives underground, which is why they have a light brown or yellow color. Ants of this species can cause serious damage to the root systems of plants, as they settle aphids underground and are carriers of fungi and viruses.

sod ant

A numerous species, representatives of which can be found even in the cold northern regions. The body length of working individuals is about 2-4 mm. Color can vary from light brown to black. Soddy ants can build nests both in open areas of the earth and under stones, old stumps or logs.

Black Carpenter Ant

One of the largest species living in Russia. The body length of workers reaches 6-8 mm, and soldiers - 9-14 mm. Insects of this species are painted black or dark gray. Their main habitat is dead wood. Ants of this species are carriers of dangerous infections, and can harm wooden buildings and furniture.

brown forest ant

Representatives of this species are also considered habitual inhabitants of forests. The length of working brown ants can vary from 4 to 8 mm. The body has a matte surface and is not painted at all in brown, but in dark gray. Colonies of this species are small and include only 500 to 2000 individuals. Brown forest ants are listed in the Red Book of the Chelyabinsk region.

Conclusion

Every living creature on the planet has its own purpose, and ants are no exception. These insects can cause a lot of problems for gardeners, but even the infamous black garden ants help control pests in the area and enrich the soil with beneficial minerals.

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