There are over 12,000 species of ant in existence today. However, in the United States, only a few species, fire ants, harvester ants, and oak ants, are known to sting. Ants belong to the insect order Hymenoptera, the family Formicidae, and are close relatives of bees and wasps. While most ants that we see do not have wings, the king and queen ants do. When new queens emerge from the nest, they possess wings and fly to mating sites. After mating, the queen will establish a new nest, and her wings will fall off.
Ants are generally unwelcome in the home garden, especially fire ants (Solenopsis spp.), but some species can be beneficial. Like most other animals, food sources in the form of sugars, proteins, or fats attract ants to the home garden. Although nectar is one source of sugar that ants will seek out, they may also be attracted to sweet fruits. In addition, some plants have nectaries, which are designed to attract ants or other sugar-loving insects. Ants can also receive protein from plants.
Ants are a part of the environment and a food source for predatory insects. They also play a role in pollinating plants and hunting pests. In some circumstances, beneficial species of ants are suitable for a garden. However, other species, like the invasive fire ant, may annoy homeowners.
1) Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.)
Sunflowers are known for their large, yellow flowers, but they come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. This group of flowers possesses nectaries that produce sweet nectar to attract ants. Often, these nectaries begin attracting ants long before the flowers bloom. Ants attracted to sunflowers will eventually make their way to the top of the flower when it blooms and pollinate it.
Sunflowers are easy to grow in most warm climates, and homeowners should not be concerned if they see ants tending to their sunflowers. However, homeowners should be wary of fire ants or aphid colonies on their sunflowers and treat their plants if these insects become an issue.
2) Peonies (Paeonia lactiflora)
The peony is a sweet-smelling species of plant that is very attractive to ants. They have beautiful pink to purple blooms and are a favorite among home gardeners. However, developing peony flowers are vulnerable to insects that wish to feed on them, and ants are an excellent defense against them. By attracting ants, the peony ensures their flower buds are protected and that they have a helpful pollinator on stand-by when the flower blooms. Peonies thrive in well-drained soil located in areas with full sun. They will produce blooms from April to June, but ants might be present on them year-round.
3) Wild parsnips (Pastinaca sativa)
Wild parsnips belong to the carrot family (Apiaceae) and produce large edible tubers. While the tubers are edible, wild parsnips are not a common food item because the fruit, leaves, and stem contain furanocoumarins, toxins activated by UV light or exposure to the sun. Care should be taken with wild parsnips as sap from this plant can irritate the skin. Plants in the family Apiaceae are also known as umbellifers, producing clusters of flowers known as umbels that attract ants with nectar.
4) Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata)
Also known as sandmat, the spotted spurge is a creeping plant with small leaves and tiny white flowers. They attract ants using their nectaries, and the ants pollinate the spotted spurge’s flowers in return. Spotted spurge also releases an irritating, milky substance that is toxic to sheep. Spotted spurge is usually considered a weed, but they are sometimes grown as an ornamental plant. They are warm-weather annuals and will die in the winter during periods of frost.
5) Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis)
Desert willows are small trees with slender leaves, thin branches, and brilliant purple, white, or pink flowers. This species blooms from April to October, and long seed pods replace fallen flowers at the end of the flowering season. Each seed is equipped with fine hairs to help them float through the air and disperse to new areas. Desert willows are found in dry regions of the western United States. As a result, they require very little water and plenty of sun. They are sometimes grown as ornamental trees as their small size makes them easy to manage.
6) Roses (Rosa spp.)
Roses are a common sight in many home gardens. They provide beautiful flowers and protection from animals and intruders with their unforgiving thorns. Unfortunately, roses also attract ants, and colonies of ants will establish herds of sap-sucking insects like aphids (family Aphididae) and scale insects (order Hemiptera) that become a nuisance to gardeners. Therefore, ants are not welcome on roses, and infestations should be dealt with swiftly to prevent the establishment of other pest insects.
7) Clematis (Clematis spp.)
The Clematis genus contains many species of climbing perennials that produce many sweet-smelling flowers in various shapes, sizes, and colors. There are three varieties of Clematis, those that bloom in the spring, those that bloom in the summer or fall, and those that bloom multiple times throughout the year. Ants are attracted to Clematis flowers and will form aphid farms on the undersides of the leaves. They will also build nests around the roots.
8) Dahlias (Dahlia spp.)
Dahlias are another species that attracts ants, and sometimes those ants can become pests if they decide to farm aphids on dahlia’s leaves. Dahlias are beautiful perennial plants with perfect, multi-petalled flowers in many colors. They are generally grown from tubers planted in the soil rather than seeds. Most dahlias bloom in the summer when temperatures are warm and have an extended blooming period in warmer climates
