Knowledgebase

Black Ants #751188

Asked May 20, 2021, 8:56 PM EDT

Black ants with large "ant hills" are over taking my yard and garden. Are they harmful and how do I get rid of them? Thank you!

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Thank you for writing.

Lets start here.

https://extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/ants

https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/2018/06/ants-in-turf.html

What kind of ants do you have?

Send me a picture of your lawn.

Steve Miles  Master Gardener, Hennepin County MN (Not an AI Bot) Replied May 20, 2021, 9:18 PM EDT
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your speedy response.
Attached are pictures of the ants going in and out of one of their large ant hills.  Hopefully if you enlarge the picture you will be able to see the ants.
Thanks again for your help.



On Thu, May 20, 2021 at 8:18 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 21, 2021, 3:31 PM EDT

Thank you for writing back.

Give me one overview shot of your lawn and one reasonable close up of an ant on white paper.
Are we talking field ants?  See the earlier link that I sent you and this?  https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/html/g1959/build/g1959.htm

If so, this is a good method of control https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/field-ants/  However, these chemical are toxic to pollinators so use as described here to minimize pollinator loss

Steve Miles  Master Gardener, Hennepin County MN (Not an AI Bot) Replied May 21, 2021, 5:47 PM EDT

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