Researcher highlights impact of ants on grass snake populations in Finland

There is a common belief that grass snakes avoid yards inhabited by ants. Jouni Sorvari, a researcher at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), does not dismiss this idea entirely. “There might be some truth to it. Although there are conflicting observations, it appears that areas with many mound-building ant nests and active ant trails inhibit snake reproduction,” Sorvari explains.

According to him, young snakes struggle to survive in the presence of mound ants, as they can become prey. Ants may also help control tick populations. “There is some indirect evidence suggesting that tick numbers are lower in areas with abundant ant mounds. However, there is no clear observation showing that ants prey on ticks. One might speculate that a blood-sucking, plump, and clumsy tick could fall prey to ants if they catch it,” he adds.

However, Sorvari indicates that there is no thorough research on the interactions between ticks and ants. Ants play a crucial role in nature, aiding in the decomposition of dead trees. Ant species like the horse ant can even harm buildings by gnawing on healthy wood.

While ants are vital to our ecosystem, their invasion of residential areas and buildings can lead to problems. Black garden ants or carpenter ants can create tunnels beneath patios, and the latter can invade homes in search of food. As Sorvari notes, horse ants can also damage structures, as they have the ability to chew through healthy wood.