Ants
categories: Natural Enemies Other Natural Enemies
last review date: 2025-12-08 03:01
Photo by: D.G. James
Biology
Every home garden has ants and like spiders these creatures engender fear and loathing in some people.
Ants indoors are clearly a problem but outdoors they have an important place in garden ecology and many species play an important role as scavengers or controlling pests.
Other species prefer to collect sweet substances like honeydew produced by some pest insects like aphids. These ants ‘protect’ honeydew-producers from their natural enemies and therefore disrupt biological control.
Fortunately, in the Pacific Northwest predatory ant species tend to outnumber honeydew-collectors, so ants are generally good for the home garden.
Prey or Pest Targeted
- Aphids, mites, thrips, leafhoppers, centipedes, millipedes, caterpillars, insect eggs, whiteflies
Attracting and Keeping Natural Enemies
and Pollinators in Your Yard and Garden
- Native plants provide essential resources.
- Native flora also provides natural overwintering sites.
- Natural dispersion from nearby habitats ensures visitation.
- Some kinds of beneficial insects predatory mites are commercially available.
- Avoid regular use of synthetic, broad-spectrum pesticides.
- Infrequent use of certain narrow-spectrum pesticides is more compatible with some beneficials.
- Extensive lawns are also not conducive to attracting beneficial insects.
Management Options
See "Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Landscape" for successful problem management techniques.
Chemical Management
IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.
- None recommended
WSU Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.