How Do Ants Make Nests in Trees?
WouterWhether they’re building nests in trees or not, ants can cause serious damage to trees. It’s a good idea to check your tree for these pests regularly. You may also want to try using ant baits or horticultural insecticide to kill the sap-feeding insects.
Carpenter ants can create a complex tunnel system in wood, hollowing out rotten wood and depositing wood chips at the base of the tree. They also know how to excavate wood quickly. They’ll even make well-connected galleries inside wood.
In some cases, ants can be a sign that a tree is dying. Those ants will be drawn to the tree because of the rotten wood or the empty cavities. They’ll also be drawn to honeydew left by other insects. However, there are some species of ants that are actually good for your trees.
Carpenter ants make nests that are 1/4-inch-diameter, meandering tunnels in the wood. They’ll build a primary nest and a satellite colony at the base of the tree. They’ll also deposit wood chips at the entrance to the nest. They’re fast workers, and they like moist environments.
Weaver ants build nests made of leaves. They stitch the edges of the leaves together. They use leaves on multiple branches. They’ll also reinforce the edges of the leaves with twigs. They’ll also stitch the tips of the leaves together.
Species and environmental conditions also affect nest architecture. Nests are usually made of less than fifty leaves, but they can be as large as 300.
