ants

My garden has a profusion of ants everywhere; i.e. in the backyard,
alonside the house, etc.

I'm aware of ants' virtues but in my gardens they host pests in unlikely
places. For example, a daylily, which is said to be care free, has some
minute insects in the bases of the leaves. These look like tiny aphids and
there's another insect as well-maybe thrips. It appears that they're being
farmed by ants. This would be fine with me but the plant is suffering.

Anyway, I'm wondering if there may be an imbalance in my garden or if it's
common to have *this* many ants. Sometimes my compost is swarming with
them. I don't use pesticides and try to cultivate plants which attract
beneficial insects. Do ants have any natural enemies, other than anteaters?

Barbara in the Berkeley flatlands
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