Ants have been bothering us all, but they are truly fascinating creatures and have a very important function in nature. Some species of ants are even considered “ecosystem engineers”, since the effects of their activity shape their environment and have a direct impact on the lives of other species.
As ants build underground channel systems for their nests and move soil around, they alter its chemical and biotic profile, allowing air and gas to travel through this architectural system. This can allow the more fertile soil and provide much-needed oxygen for plant roots.
Ants feed and feed: ants are great decomposers They feed on organic detritus and dead organisms, from plants to animals. Carpenter ants, for example, being a big problem in homes, are fundamental agents in nature, as they accelerate the decomposition of dead trees, later allowing new fungi and bacteria to develop in their place. But ants are too food source for a large number of animals – not just for anteaters! They are food for creatures large and small, from insectivorous insects to bears, who often attack trees to feed on ant larvae and pupae.
kind of ant
No to tomatoes!
While ants can be helpful to the environment and our gardens, they can destroy some of our shrubs and trees. snuggling under them. In these cases, it is natural that you want to take action against these insects. that’s why we share some tips to get rid of the anthills that destroy your tomato plants:
1. Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a whitish powder composed of fossilized marine phytoplankton. While completely harmless to us mammals, when it comes into contact with an insect’s exoskeleton, it absorbs the waxy coating and eventually kills it. So try spraying this substance over and around the nest. Best of all, it won’t alarm them (so they don’t attack you) and they’ll walk right past it, accidentally contaminating themselves.
2. Rake and Vinegar
Ants go to great lengths to build their nests and therefore generally do not settle in soil that is often treated or plowed. By repeatedly sweeping the mound, the ants may get tired and leave. For additional effectiveness, pour pure white vinegar in the anthill Ants hate it and that will make them run away. But be careful! Vinegar will also affect your plants.
3. Yes, tomatoes are safe for now…
If ants aren’t invading your home or causing damage to your yard, it’s okay to leave the anthills alone. As we said, they might be doing you a favor. However, it is always interesting to keep them away from vegetables or exploring our kitchen in search of food. To avoid the side effects of having a tingling, we leave some tips below:
4. The chalk line
For some reason ants don’t cross chalk lines and nobody seems to know why. So draw a chalk line around the areas you want to protect and you will likely keep them free of ants.
5. Crop repellents
If you are working in your garden, try planting some insect repellent plants to naturally protect your garden. Many insects are repelled by a wide variety of strong-smelling plants, such as Santa Maria, catnip, garlic, mint, or mugwort.
If you try some of these methods, we’re sure you’ll be able to handle your ant problems effectively, but responsibly!
If ants from a nearby anthill are causing problems at home – we know that having fire ants around is not pleasant, for example. Place ant traps strategically around your backyard. It is likely that the Queen come into contact with the slow-acting pesticide brought by the workers and die. Once he’s gone, so are his workers!