Are ants garden pests?

[fibifooz]

I've never really been too bothered about ants in the garden, they never seemed to be a problem, but I have a lemon tree that I've put in the greenhouse because it's still not warm enough to put outside and it's crawling with ants, all the leaves are curling as if all the moisture has been sucked out. Do you think its the ants or just one of those things that happens to lemon trees?

[gen2]

I presume you are talking about ants in the UK.  There are no ants that directly harm plants but some of their activities may cause minor damage.    (1)  Some ants farm aphids for their sweet secretions (honeydew)  and the increased concentration of aphids may weaken the plant.  (2) Some plants have a sweet sap which may attract ants, but the ants themselves are highly unlikely to be able to inflict sufficient damage to access it.     (3)  Ants might also feed on damaged sweet fruit

The other side of the coin is that ants also eat small grubs and maggots and thus can be considered beneficial to gardeners.

[normyc]

i think it may be one of those things that happen to citrus plants.......mine have all shrivelled... Is your greenhouse moist and humid?

[fibifooz]

no. its unheated.

[normyc]

try this link for some answers

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0101/citrus_cultiva tion.asp