Opening a brand new mulch bag from the store and finding some ants crawling inside can be disconcerting. It’s also possible that ants will find an open mulch bag in your shed and decide to investigate.
Is it safe to use a mulch bag with ants in it?
Potential Benefits of Ants in Mulch Bag
Spreading mulch that contains a few ants can have a few potential benefits for your garden. Much like earthworms, ants tunnel through the soil. This activity can improve soil structure and help with aeration. Ant tunnels can result in better drainage and create a loose soil structure that promotes root growth.
Another benefit is that most ant species eat other insects or will at least eat their eggs. Ants can be a great way to extinguish an aphid infestation in your garden and can help control the insect population.
Consider the Risk of an Ant Infestation
Not all ants are the same. There are over 1,000 different species present in North America. A few species are pests that can spread quickly and cause damage to your plants or home.
The ants in your mulch bag could establish a new colony and take over your property. Before you decide whether you should use the mulch, try identifying the ants:
- Carpenter ants have wings and dark-colored bodies. They dig tunnels through wood structures and can cause extensive damage to homes. Plus, carpenter ants will bite as a defense mechanism.
- Thief ants are another common species considered as pests. These ants are very active when foraging for food and will possibly find their way into your home to look for sweet foods. They’re small and have a color that ranges from yellowish to brown.
- Fire ants, which are reddish in color, build nests that look like small mounts. They reproduce quickly and can cause extensive damage to plants and crops.
- Pharaoh ants are yellow or light brown and can look transparent. These ants are a common indoor nuisance.
- Argentine ants are small and brown. This invasive species often finds its way indoors in search of food and water. They can become a nuisance since their colonies can grow to large sizes.
While a few species are pests, any ant colony can carry bacteria and diseases. Using a mulch bag with ants means you might introduce new bacteria and diseases to your yard.
Will Ants in Mulch Bag Establish a New Colony?
Ants need a queen to start a new colony. If you have a bag of mulch with a few worker ants in it, these ants will likely die after digging tunnels for a while.
If a queen is present in the mulch bag, you’ll see some eggs. Ant eggs are small white specks that you can easily miss, but you should notice a large number of ants in the bag. These signs indicate that the ants will be able to establish a colony and could spread on your property.
Conclusion: Is It Safe To Use a Mulch Bag With Ants?
If a mulch bag has a handful of ants in it and you’re able to identify them as a species that isn’t a pest, using the mulch is safe. However, introducing a queen ant in your garden means you’ll end up with a colony.
While ants are good for soil aeration and pest control, some species can cause damage to plants and even to your home in the case of carpenter ants. If you’re unable to identify the ants or can’t tell how many are in the bag, it’s best not to use the mulch to prevent a ant infestation.