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22-Jul-2004
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#1 |
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Just a newbie for sure.
Join Date: May-2004
Location: Herald (Northern CA)
Country: USA
USDA Zone: 9 (Heat zone 8)
Posts: 96
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Red Ant Invasion
When I went to water my trees this morning I found that the red ants had really taken to my ficus. They also tend to hide under the pots of the other trees as well.
Any advice as to what will get rid of them? Thanks!
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Terri |
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Red Ant Invasion |
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22-Jul-2004
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#2 |
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Intermediate
Join Date: Jun-2002
Location: Hudson, FL
Country: USA
Posts: 487
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If you can find some, sprinkle borax around everything. I think that drives ants away. Check for aphids because they may have been placed on your tree by the ants. Ants farm aphids like cattle. The ants stroke the aphids and collect a secretion that they give off. Some stores still sell borax in the laundry detergent section.
regards, susieq |
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22-Jul-2004
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Artisan
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Ants can't cross a barrier ov vaseline. They will try as hard as they can to find another way around it. Try making a big circle around your tree as a temporary answer until you can find another treatment.
Good luck, ants are hard. Tom |
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22-Jul-2004
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#4 |
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Just a newbie for sure.
Join Date: May-2004
Location: Herald (Northern CA)
Country: USA
USDA Zone: 9 (Heat zone 8)
Posts: 96
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Great info.
Thanks for the info. I will go to the store and get some borax and vaseline and seee if I can get these vreatures to leave my trees alone.
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Terri |
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22-Jul-2004
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#5 |
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Tips:5¢ Advice:Free
 
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Are the ants nesting in the plants or visiting them? If they are visiting you might have a problem with aphids.
I have seen some Japanese growers that use a little water to isolate their plants. If they were benches, each foot of the bench would be sitting on a block in a dish of water. They might have insecticide in the water, I'm not sure. You could probably do something similar with a humidity tray that would keep the ants out. Ant stakes also work pretty well, actually. Regards, Matt
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24-Jul-2004
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Expert
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All of these ideas will work. Understand that borax is toxic to people and pets, so if you have either I would not use the borax. Or buy some of the traps that have a boric acid base to them. Some are made for ants attracted to sweets and some are made for ants attracted to fats. I use both at the same time. But the traps are easier to place away from curious "critters". Safer. If you use Matt's water trick (works great. I use it on my hummingbird feeders), try adding some oil to it. Just enough to form a thin film on the surface. Or soap.
Ants do indeed farm aphids like cattle herds. It is fascinating to watch. But the "secretion" is the aphids expelled waste products (to put it nicely). It is called honeydew and is very sticky and sweet ("they" say). Vaseline will work but is messy. And as it gets dirty, it needs to be redone. Gee. Am I sounding like I have tried all this stuff? Indeed. Moni |
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