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Ants, ants, ants everywhere!
I love working at Starbucks in the morning…I am productive; I treat myself to my favourite coffee and occasionally I find out something interesting. This week, I found out about the ant problem we are having this spring from a neighbour who works at the nearby Rona.
All the rain this spring, did more than dampen our spirits, it had flooded out the ant nests. Ant hordes have found their way into warm, dry and food-filled homes. My kitchen is thankfully intact. I only had to remove the dog’s food bowl from the floor and wash the floor to remove the scout trails. Others weren’t so lucky.
But the ants we have in our northern North American homes are not that harmful or destructive. Just a nuisance. Unlike the army ants. Growing up in Africa, I have seen hordes of army ants track through our garden, devouring everything along their path, including 30 doves in the aviary.
Garden ants (Lasius niger) and pavement ants (Tetramorium caespitum) found in our northern gardens aren’t anything like the army ants. They are the good guys in the garden and ant world. Garden and pavement ants:
- Reduce pest problems in the garden by eating other insects.
- Aerate and mix the soil
- Remove plant debris
These ants are the garden’s recyclers.
So, it’s not hard for me to caulk the doors and windows, stop leaving food around and keep cleaning the floor to remove ant scent trails. Not only is it healthier for me not to use pesticides, but in the long run, it is also good for the garden.
Ants are intriguing, but due to their small size, ants are often overlooked. Here’s a few fascinating facts:
- There are over 12,000 species of ants all over the world.
- Pavement ant colonies average 3,000 to 4,000 members and have several queens.
- E.O. Wilson, a giant in the ant studying field, estimates that there between one and ten quadrillion ants alive in the world at any one time. This means there as many ants (by weight) as people in this world!
Great ant books
Journey to the Ants. E.O Wilson and Bert Hölldobler 1994 layman’s version of their Pulitzer-prize winning book, The Ants.
Bees, Wasps, and Ants: The Indispensable Role of Hymenoptera in Gardens written by Eric Grissell, published in 2010 by Timber Press. Well written, easy-to-read book. And it’s THE insect book just for gardens and gardeners.
Fantastic Ant Websites
MYRMECOS: Alex Wild on insects, science, and photography. A brilliant ant blog, complete with images. Prepare to have your stereotypes challenges.
Identify the type of ant you have at University of California’s Integrated Pest Management program website.
Written by Cristina da Silva
Friday, June 3, 2011 in Gardens
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Cristina, what a timely post. Just yesterday I was sitting in my garden looking at a trail of ants with amusement, wondering how many ants there are in the world. Thanks for the answer and an interesting read.
You are welcome, Laura. I love the tiny things in the garden. Bees, ants, fungus…all work in our gardens to make it a better place. We just have to get out of the way sometimes