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Santa Cruz, CA

Today, we planted out our seedlings into the patch and found in three of the centers, ant hills. With all the water we've been having they probably love the dry warm spot. Should we do anything about them? Are they bad for the seedlings?

5/5/2006 1:20:34 AM

Knopp, Germany

I would put something down to kill the ants ASAP. Aphids will suck the life out of your leaves. Here is an article I cut/pasted from a web site:

Symbiotic Relationships

Ant/Other Insect: These relationships are many and diverse, ranging from commensual to parasitic. Aphids and ants have many species relationships where both the ants and aphids benefit (mutualism). Aphids secrete honeydew and amino acids through their anus. The ants eat or store the honeydew. The ants sometimes incorporate the aphid territory into their own territory, which allows easier access to the aphids and affords the aphids protection by a greater number of ants. The honeydew sometimes contains chemicals that are purposely directed at attracting ants. The aphids sometimes release chemical signals that warn other aphids of a predatorial attack and also alert the ants so they can attack the invader.

owen

5/5/2006 1:51:46 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

Thanks Owen for the info. Do you know what works to kill them and doesn't harm the plants?

5/5/2006 1:54:12 AM

Knopp, Germany

I am not familiar with what products are available in the states. Maybe someone else can help you there, or a garden center might be able to advise you.

5/5/2006 2:10:55 AM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Boron is extreamly toxic to ants. if these are a few large ant colinies a little borax mixed with something sweet (corn syrup and a little water) and spread around the hills should do the trick. It can also be toxic to plants so too much can be a big problem. Dont apply as a general application to the whole patch. If you have a lot of ants scattered around the patch, you could make some little bait stations with some of the mixture in it with access to the ants, they will find them in short order.

5/5/2006 1:18:32 PM

Oz

The best thing I have used is orange based cleaner.
I wonder if borax works on fire ants.....

5/5/2006 2:39:25 PM

Colorado

This data sheet might be helpful.

http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/AntControl003.shtml

---Kirk

5/5/2006 3:08:30 PM

Phoenix, AZ

He, He, you said anus!

5/5/2006 10:03:37 PM