Field Guide    Biocontrols  Ants

Ants

Ants can assist with biological control in agriculture, helping in the management of pests naturally. Many ant species, such as weaver ants (Oecophylla spp.), fire ants (Solenopsis spp.), and big-headed ants (Pheidole spp.), are predators of agricultural pests like caterpillars, beetle larvae and aphids.

Weaver ants, used in tropical ecosystems, form large colonies that live on plants, attacking pests and deterring insects. Fire ants and big-headed ants forage for insect prey, reducing pest populations in crops such as citrus and maize. Ants also interfere with pest behavior, stopping outbreaks by disrupting feeding and reproduction.

The advantages of ants as biocontrol agents include their ability to hunt a wide range of pests, their persistence in agricultural landscapes, and their ability to reduce dependence on pesticide use.

As a natural and sustainable bio control, ants contribute to agricultural productivity, making them an important part of many farming systems.