Natural Predators of Ants in Your Garden

What Eats Ants. We can’t eradicate all outdoor ants – the entire food chain would collapse without this abundant prey. Some animals in your outdoor space will certainly want to help control the ant population by eating them.

What Eats Ants. Many gardeners buy pots of live ladybugs to control aphid infestations in their garden. These carnivorous ladybugs eat 40–50 aphids daily, leaving the previously infested plant untouched.

What Eats Ants. Some species in your own garden can also be beneficial (and harmful) to your ant population without disrupting the local ecosystem.

Today, we’ll introduce you to some common pests that can repel ants in your yard and provide a first line of defense against indoor pest infestations.

Why Choose Natural Ant Control?

What Eats Ants. Homeowners looking to reduce ants in or around their home can solve their problem with a ready-made ant spray.

However, these sprays may contain chemicals that are harmful to children, pets, or other insects (such as pollinators).

What Eats Ants. Ensure that these naturally occurring predators are not harmed by our treatment and can continue to thrive.

Ants as a Food Source in the Ecosystem

Because ants are found in and around densely populated nests, their large numbers make them a delicious target.

What Eats Ants. Some species, such as the anteater (native to South America) and the aardvark (found throughout Africa), specialize in scavenging and consuming ants in large numbers.

Despite their small size, their nests are dense enough to support these gigantic mammals, which can weigh up to 150 pounds.

Few people in the United States have access to anteaters and aardvarks, but many animals rely on ants as a food source. Some may look vicious and scary, but they all have a place in their local ecosystem and food chain.

Insects That Kill Ants : What Eats Ants

Their characteristic larvae resemble small, light brown beetles with enormous, pincer-like jaws. As adults, antlions resemble delicate dragonflies with narrow wings.

They dig funnel-shaped burrows in loose soil, where they rest on the bottom with only their jaws protruding. What Eats Ants

If an ant or other small insect falls into the burrow, the antlion larva quickly grabs it with its powerful jaws and injects digestive enzymes to immobilize and consume the prey.

Spiders, Wasps, and Beetles : What Eats Ants

Spiders
Not only do they kill worker ants, but many species also consume ant larvae and pupae, ensuring that future generations are destroyed! Additionally, many spider species worldwide are believed to hunt ants.

Wasps
Wasps belong to the wasp family and leave their larvae on plants near an ant colony. The larvae attach to passing ants and are carried back to the colony.

They emit a scent that attracts ants. Before the ants realize they are eating something foreign, the young wasp has already eaten the ant larvae.

Paussinae Beetles
Paussinae beetles, also known as ant beetles, live in ant colonies. They spray chemicals from their abdomens to reduce the ants’ aggression.

They usually eat the ant larvae. This is a way to successfully control these pests without using toxic chemicals.

Larger Predators: Anteaters, Lizards, and Birds

Anteaters
Anteaters are the largest anteaters. They may not be near you, but if you see one, their main prey is usually the southern fire ant and other species of red ants. Anteaters have very long tongues that can reach into an anthill, preventing them from leaving their colony.

Lizards
Lizards love ants. Many lizards eat insects, including the ant species that live in your area. The most common lizard species that hunt ants are skinks and geckos, so if you see one, it probably just ate some tasty red ants!

Ant-eating Birds
Many ant-eating birds, such as woodpeckers, nuthatches, and tits, are often welcome in gardens and yards as they commonly feed on ants and other pests.

These birds typically feed on ants that crawl in trees and gardens. Simply place feeders and waterers in your garden to attract these natural predators.

Summary : Natural Ways to Control Ant

What Eats Ants. This information will help you learn about the most common natural predators of ants and how to use them in your garden. Want to learn more about these natural predators? Contact us for more information!