Ants can be better than pesticides for growing healthy crops, study finds

Harnessing natural insect power can, with proper management, have higher efficacy than resorting to harmful chemicals

A tropical Ectatomma ant, one of the world’s 14,000 species, many of which can do the job of chemicals by killing pests that harm crops. Picture: Pexels

Ants can be more effective than pesticides at helping farmers produce food, according to new research. They are better at killing pests, reducing plant damage and increasing crop yields, according to the first systematic review of ants’ contributions to crop production.

Ants are generalist predators and hunt pests that damage fruits, seeds and leaves, leading to a drop in crop yields. A greater diversity of ants generally provides more protection against a wider range of pests, the study found.