Do Ants Help Trees?

Whether ants help or hurt trees is a question that’s hard to answer. Depending on the species, ants can be beneficial or harmful to a tree.

Some species of ants, like red fire ants, chew the bark on a tree to get at the sap. Others, like the Azteca pittieri ants, live in the trees and help to protect them from herbivores and other critters. They even repair holes in the trees’ walls and close up entry points.

Some ants, like the dark marron ants, will sting anyone that disturbs their colony. They’re especially bad for younger trees, which can be harsh.

Some of the plants that ants live in have hollow stems, which are called ant-plants. Some species of ants are even attracted to the nectar of citrus blossoms. In a study, ants have been shown to help trees in dry climates.

When a tree is in a drought, it can’t afford to lose its leaves. But trees in dry areas have an ant-insurance policy. They can attract a standing army of ants to help them survive.

These ants also protect the trees from insects that want to feed on their leaves. When these insects, like aphids, attack a tree, the ants are there to defend it. Eventually, the insects will die.

These ants are also a good source of organic compost. They eat insects and parasites that live on the tree and also remove waste from the tree.