ANTS Ants are scavengers and as such clean up the environment. In their search for food they will kill and collect other insects, such as earwigs, flea and fly larvae etc. Ants normally vary in size from 2 to 7 mm long, although Carpenter Ants could stretch to 2 cm. Ants can be brown, black or red, winged or wingless, have narrow waists and elbowed antennae. Ants are sociable insects that care for their young.
Most ant problems are a direct result of insect infestations in plants and trees.
Aphids , Scale Insects and Mealybugs suck the sap of plants. Ants will transport Aphids from plant to plant and take the eggs into their colony for the winter. Ants will also protect Aphids from insect predators, such as Lady Beetles, Lacewings etc. Ant colonies consist of males, females and workers. When swarming winged male and female ants mate in flight after which they search for an appropriate nesting site, usually in soil, under concrete, or in rotting stumps and wood.