When you wander through your garden and you come across an anthill, a small mound of soil molded into tiny pellets, what often comes to a gardener’s mind first is to destroy it. You stomp and kick until the small hill disappears and the tiny ants scurry off, not knowing that you’re actually doing a disservice to your garden. Most times gardeners find these anthills as a nuisance in the garden, but actually they are helpful. Tunneling ants turn over as much soil as earthworms do, aerating the soil and redistributing nutrients. Ants are also part of the world recycling crew: acting as scavengers, collecting dead insects and turning them into fertilizer for your soil.

Rather than being seen as pests, ants can be understood as our partners in gardening. One of the most important roles that ants play in our garden is as seed dispersers. Ants are very helpful.