Some Hemipterans, including many aphids, produce honeydew that is consumed by ants. In return, ants defend aphids from predators such as green lacewing larvae. We compared the recruitment of an invasive ant and a native ant to aphids and their efficacy as aphid defenders to test the hypothesis that invasive ants are “better” mutualists than native ants. We found that the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) were more attracted to and better defended cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) than a native pyramid ant (Dorymyrmex bureni). This result suggests that invasive ants many have a disproportionately large effect on the abundance and distribution of some honeydew-producing Hemipterans.