FARM Non-stinging ants in garden soil?

[Satanta]

I am finishing up putting together some raised beds. I have a 50gal trash can I keep potting soil and dirt in outside-the soil here is clay/sand so it has to be imported.

I went to move the can, had to take out some plastic growing containers I tossed in and got covered with ants. Non-biting, just tickly as they run around on the hands and arms. Lots in the soil.

I would hate to kill them off if they would be harmless, maybe even beneficial to the garden.

Little brownish/Blackish and fast but definitely not Fire Ants.

Thoughts?

 

[rockcreek]

yea we have the black ones. We usually leave them alone unless they start coming inside. Now the red ones that bite we get rid of them.

 

[Publius]

I've had the same problem here a number of times and they do live in soil and they found yours to setup home in, its ok no harm done, just don't use that batch potting soil for indoor plants.

 

[Countrymouse]

Argentine ants.

Like the DARK---will run to hide if exposed.

Live under leaves, rocks, inside your walls/attic--

don't bite, but are a nuisance...

 

[Satanta]

Yeah, lots of experience with Fire Ants being from Texas. If they had started stinging me this post would not exist as I would been out there playing Ant Mao instead.

 

[changed]

Ants can be good/bad. Even fire ants prey on many garden pests. However, some ants protect aphids, which are a plant pest. Me personally, if they don't sting, I would leave them alone.

 

[Petunia]

Hopefully they are not "crazy ants." Can't post the picture, but check out this site: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/crazy_ant.htm

Crazy ants like to eat electric wiring. A relative, who lives south of Houston, has been waging war against them for a couple of years.

 

[Satanta]

I doubt it, they lived in a protected plastic can and it has no signs of being eaten.

 

[kyrsyan]

Sound like the little black ants I'm dealing with. No biting but they're everywhere. They freeze up if the item they are on moves. Generally a pain in the patootie b/c they keep coming back even when I spray.