Benin trial shows ants on cashew nut trees can double crop yield

Researchers in Benin Republic have reported that patrols of ants on cashew nut trees can roughly double the yield of the crop.

The researchers compared three methods of ant-based pest control on trees with existing ant populations. On the first set, the ants were left as they were. On the second, they were fed sugar solution. A third set were sprayed with an organic pesticide that kills fruit flies. Finally, as a control, some trees had sticky bands placed around their main stem so no ants could reach them.

The research, published in Agricultural and Forest Entomology, found that all treatments involving ants increased the cashew nut yield.