Do Ants Have Natural Predators?
WouterUsing other insects to get rid of ants is not always the best solution. It can replace one pest infestation with another.
Natural predators of ants include ant-killing insects, spiders, and other arthropods. These predators help to keep ant populations down. They also protect ants from large predators.
Some of these predators are larger creatures, like bears. Bears eat ants, eggs, and other insects. They also eat carrion and small mammals. In North America, bears eat high volumes of ants.
Other predators are flies. Some fly species lay eggs on living ants. The larvae eat ants and their brains. They can also hitchhike on ants.
Anteaters are nocturnal. They are known to dig pits in the ground and eat ants as they fall into their mouths. Ants are known to defend their nests from predators. Several predatory ants also eat other ants.
Jumping spiders are active hunters. They wait for approaching ants, and then jump on them. They use venom to kill them. Jumping spiders also create webs to trap ants. They are also known to weave webs near ant trails.
Another type of predator is the ant-mugging fly. It mimics the sound of an ant regurgitating. The ants spit onto the fly’s mouth, and it then steals the food. Some ants are not receptive to the ant-mugging fly, but it can help to keep them from infesting your home.
Ants can defend their nests against many predators, but they have enemies inside their own colonies. Spiders and other arthropods are among the most common predators.
