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The ant as a plant protector
The ants are not only able to effectively protect the nest from enemies, but in several cases, they have also been shown to be effective in protecting the plants they roam.
Ants can thus not only protect the orchard from pests, but also from stubborn plant diseases. Here you can read more about the plant protection abilities of ants and how they can be used as beneficial insects in biological control.
Wood ants control apple scab and apple rot
This 2019 article examined the effect of wood ants on the two plant diseases apple scab and apple rot. It found that the ants significantly reduced the amount of scab on the apple variety Holsteiner cox, while the amount of apple rot was twice as high on trees without ants. In 2021, the effect was proven when an experiment showed that wood ants reduced apple scab by more than 40% on the variety Ingrid-Marie.
Ants control pear scab in Italy
This 2020 article investigated how ants affect the amount of pear scab on pear trees in Italy. It found that the ants significantly reduced the amount of pear scab on the trees' leaves.
Ants control a range of plant diseases
This 2021 review summarizes the ability of ants to combat plant diseases. It found 22 ant-produced substances and 30 ant symbionts (microorganisms that live in or on the ants) that were able to inhibit 20 and 10 different plant diseases, respectively.
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I denne artikel fra 2019 undersøgte man skovmyrernes effekt på de to plantesygdomme æbleskurv og æbleråd. Her fandt man at myrerne signifikant reducerede mængden af skurv på æblesorten Holsteiner cox, mens mængden af æbleråd var dobbelt så stor på træer uden myrer.
I denne artikel fra 2024 har man vist hvordan myrer afsætter antimikrobielle fodspor når de går. Resultaterne viser, at der lever antimikrobielle bakterier og svampe både inde i myrerne og udenpå dem, og at disse bliver overført til omgivelserne, når myrerne vandrer rundt. Nogle af mikroberne producerer antibiotiske stoffer, som kan slå både æbleskurv, æbleråd, gråskimmel, og aksfusarium ihjel.