Some describe ants as a tiny world power, because the insects populate nature, cities, gardens and, rather undesirable, houses and apartments. As fascinating as a large anthill in the forest is, many people do not like the little animals in their own garden. But should they be expelled from there and if so, what measures are permitted? We will clarify this in the following article.
Ants loosen the soil and perform other useful tasks
Important for the ecosystem
The populations of most of the approximately two hundred species of ants native to our country are constantly declining. However, ants are significantly involved in numerous natural cycles and are therefore indispensable for the environment:
- Some species decompose dead wood and thus take on an important step in the formation of humus.
- Predatory ants regulate the presence of pests.
- The small crawlers themselves are the prey of other animals. For example, birds can obtain high-quality protein from the ant larvae.
- They spread the seeds of many wild plants.
- The insects that live underground mix and aerate the earth.
- If all ants disappeared, the ecosystem would probably collapse.
Ants in the garden: Rather unpopular
If the little animals spread out near the terrace or in the flower bed, this is not very pleasant. The ant poison can trigger painful reactions and large colonies of aphids damage the plants in the long term. You should therefore try to get rid of your unwanted roommates gently.
There are some eco-friendly ways to effectively rub the little buggers:
- Ants have a very sensitive sense of smell. Scented litter or lavender, cinnamon or marjoram placed on the ant trails prevent the returning animals from finding the burrow again.
- Instead, place a flower pot filled with straw upside down near the ant colony. The insects will move in here and can be resettled.
- Flood the burrow with a strong stream of water for a few consecutive days.
- You can specifically attract ants with tall jars of honey or jam leftovers. You can simply release the caught animals at another location.
tips
If possible, avoid using methods such as pouring boiling water over them or laying out bait cans. The ants then reliably die, but these methods are not ecologically compatible. Therefore we strongly advise against it.