Farmers Can Protect Crops with Ants in Place of Pesticides, Paper Suggests

Ants are often thought to be harmful to crops. However, researchers have now found evidence that they could actually be good substitutes for pesticides.

Ants

This finding was made by a team of researchers, who were mainly affiliated with institutions in Brazil. The evidence suggests that ants can serve as a natural pesticide for growing a wide range of crops.

The team examined studies by researchers from around the world on natural pest control. It released the results of its analysis in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

A case for ants

Farmers across the globe mostly turn to commercial pesticides to protect their crops and increase yields. These substances help to kill bugs that feed on crops and cause plant damage, thereby increasing crop production.

There is a problem, however. Researchers have also shown that pesticides can have unwanted effects. For example, the chemicals in them could cause pollution, kill pollinators, and pose a threat to human health.

The possible side effects of pesticides have sent researchers on a quest for safer, natural ways of protecting crops. Interestingly, ants are among the options that are being considered.

Ants are pest predators. They ignore the crops and focus on insects that damage plant leaves, seeds, and fruits under the right conditions.

As per researchers, ants have a long history of use in agriculture. Citrus growers in China are said to have used them in controlling pests for centuries.

Evidence of crop protection

This team of researchers, led by Diego Anjos, wanted to find out what previous research on ants as natural pesticides had revealed. A search on the topic yielded 52 studies involving 17 different crop types.

Analysis of the research papers revealed that ants did impressively well for pest control. The researchers found that there were even cases where these social insects did a better job than commercial pesticides.

The team observed that ants were most efficient when used for protecting crops growing in partial shade.

Ants were least helpful when used for crops that produce a sugary substance called honeydew. In such cases, they showed a tendency to “farm” insects, such as aphids, so they could feed on the substance.

Overall, this systematic review of studies suggests that ants offer a low-cost and sustainable means of protecting crops. They can be used on both small and large farms, the researchers said.