Ants can be found in most parts of the world and most people can recognise them in an instant. However, far fewer are aware of the ants’ potential as alternatives to chemical pesticides against plant diseases. While many ant species are already known for controlling pest insects, research has also shown that their presence can reduce crop diseases. During her PhD studies, Ida Cecilie Jensen investigated how ants reduce different crop diseases and the role of their microbiome in this effect.

The findings of her research emphasise that antimicrobial bacteria play an important role in the ants’ suppression of crop diseases and suggest that ants and their bacterial buddies could become valuable tools for sustainable crop protection in the future.   

The PhD study was completed at department of Ecoscience, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 4th of April 2025 at 10:00
Place: Building 1110 room 223 (Auditorium), Ecoscience, Aarhus University, 1110, C.F. Møllers Alle 8, Building 1110, 8000 Aarhus
Title of PhD thesis: Exploring the microbial associates of ants and their applications in agriculture
Contact information: Ida Cecilie Jensen, e-mail: icj@ecos.au.dk, tel.: +45 51864690
Members of the assessment committee:
Professor Donato Grasso, Department of Chemical, Life and Environmental Sustainability Sciences, University of Parma, Italy
Professor Jeppe Lund Nielsen, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Denmark
Professor Martin Holmstrup (chair), Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Senior Researcher Joachim Offenberg, Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Professor Andreas Schramm Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English
The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.