The root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.), is a major pest of Florida citrus. When neonate larvae hatch in the citrus canopy and drop to the soil surface before burrowing down to the roots for feeding, they are extremely vulnerable to ant predation. We manipulated ant populations in citrus groves using granular ant baits to determine the relationship between ant population levels (measured with baits) and predation pressure on neonates (measured by exposing lab-reared neonates to field predation). Our results indicate a strong correlation between ant population levels and predation pressure, and reinforce the view that ants are important biological control agents of Diaprepes neonates.