Are Ants in Trees Beneficial?

[pigwot]

Jerry,
That reminded me of climbing with a friend Sam Johnson north of Santa Rosa. He ‘named’ the trees we climbed. One day we started in a Coast Redwood which had four dead, dry tops where it had grown above the moist coastal valley’s humidity. One of the tops was teetering and ready to fall, so it was called ‘Triceratops’

The next tree was a tall Doug Fir. Shot a line up and he went up first to set our lines. By the time he got to his TIP he started screaming and bailed, covered in ants. We moved on, after naming it ‘Ants in Your Pants’.

 

[FireFighterZero]

Ant trees... misery

Geeze...never thought of that.

 

[gf beranek]

Some of the worst experience in my career, Jim. Ant trees suck hairy moose lips.

 

[pigwot]

And they don’t stop biting… until you’re rid of them (why after 38 years does that make me think of my ex ?!?)

 

[Jomo]

Interesting how many of you failed to answer the question posed, which in my opinions a hands down yes.

They are extremely beneficial to a tree's health.

Even if it's just because they keep humans away from them.......

Jomo

 

[gf beranek]

One thing is sure, when ants are in the trees they are in high defense mode.

 

[Jomo]

There are many well documented examples of trees and insects having symbiotic relationships.

That said, there are many well documented examples of insects wiping out trees quite mercilessly.

Jomo