The functional role of ants in no-till cropping systems

Ants dominate terrestrial ecosystems yet are often overlooked in temperate annual cropping systems. These social insects provide valuable ecosystem services in tropical and subtropical agriculture, but their potential roles in temperate row crops have received less attention. This review examines how no-till farming practices create opportunities for ants to establish and contribute to pest suppression, weed-seed removal, and soil improvement in temperate row crops. Unlike conventional tillage that may destroy ant colonies, no-till systems preserve nest architecture and foraging networks, allowing ant populations to persist across growing seasons. Evidence from multiple regions demonstrates that no-till fields support greater ant abundance, species richness, and predation activity than tilled systems. Cover crops further enhance ant communities by providing habitat complexity and alternative prey, while integrated pest management preserves beneficial populations through judicious insecticide use. Ants offer multiple mechanisms for pest control, including direct predation, non-consumptive deterrence, and season-long activity when other natural enemies are scarce. Their soil engineering activities create biopores that improve water infiltration and nutrient transport. Despite these potential benefits, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding ant community composition, seasonal activity patterns, and quantitative impacts on economically important pests in temperate systems. Future research should apply molecular gut content analysis and stable isotope techniques to reveal cryptic trophic interactions, develop economic valuations of ant-mediated services, and create practical decision-support tools for farmers. As agriculture faces pressure to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining productivity, conservation practices that support ant communities represent an underutilized strategy for sustainable intensification in temperate cropping systems. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.