ants, good or bad ?

At My allotment, my pollytunnel, greenhouse and compost heap are OVERRUN with ants,do they do any harm?, I would have thought in the compost heap was ok as they are airaiting the soil, but I am not sure about the Polly and greenhouse, my plants don't seem to be suffering, but I am not sure, any advise would be welcome.

 

Surprised no one replied. I have lots of them they are more of a nuisance than anything. I find disturbing them often seems to make them go away. A bit of loosening the soil taking care not to disturb roots helps. In the lawn I just tread on each nest and this also seems to stop them. The other thing I do is use Poison.. Sugar with Borax 5 sugar 1 borax with a tiny bit of water. This mix wont harm anything large but keep covered from bees etc. They take this back to the nest.

 

I wouldn't use any poison for ants, it's harmful to other insects & bees. A kettle of boiling hot water is always a good way of controlling ants! I also disturb their nests every few hours they don't seem to appreciate that much & soon clear off!

 

I'd sharp scuttle off with boiling water on my bum too

 

Ants in the compost heap are an indication it's too dry and good do with a good soak. Ants do not like being disturbed or too wet.
In the greenhouse I use a borax based compound, under a plastic bag, if they become too numerous. Otherwise live and let live, unless the nest is in the roots of a plant; when I do get rid of them, because otherwise the plant will have it's roots constantly disturbed.