From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bonney Lake, WA USA

I dug into my mount yesterday and it has be taken over by ants. There were thousands of them, larva and all. They were small and black. My question is: do I ned to get rid of them or will the plant be okay with them there? Thanks in advance.

4/29/2013 12:34:12 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

A good contact like Orthmax, Spectracide, or a granular like bug b gone

4/29/2013 1:30:36 PM

Nottingham, UK

Had the same problem last year but didn't cause me any issues.

Do ants seek drier ground in the mound?

4/29/2013 2:32:38 PM

Don't know if they will do any damage to the plant but if they keep you from sleeping at night................

Put some really starchy food out for them.
Dry oatmeal or dry grits.
Their stomachs can't handle the starch when it expands and POP!!!

4/29/2013 3:49:32 PM

Omaha, Ne.

if it moves kill it. ask questions later. ha. Plus don't they bring aphids to the party? they do with tomatoes.

4/29/2013 4:29:55 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

I had yellow ants get into my stumps twice with disastrous results. They ate off all of the roots and killed the plant.

4/29/2013 5:46:20 PM

San Diego

small black ants should not hurt a thing. If regular ants hurt plants, I wouldn't grow anything! lol. I have so many they walk on my vines like a highway express. Relax. Now, sow bugs, and lots of them, another story! I hate those guys.

4/29/2013 9:41:05 PM

Central NY

.....Half a quart of gasoline should do the trick......

4/30/2013 12:15:24 AM

Westford, MA

Mix 1/2 Borax soap and 1/2 sugar
sprinkle around where they're active
They carry it back to the nest, and the Borax kills the colony.
Reapply after rain or moisture event.

4/30/2013 1:12:03 PM

Westford, MA

sorry watch your Boron level.

Better go with the contact spray

4/30/2013 1:41:14 PM

Omaha, Ne.

get out some frustration, get a magnifying glass

4/30/2013 7:46:39 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Ants in the pumpkin patch is a bad idea. The ants "farm" the aphids for the honey dew resulting in a black mould usually on the underside of the leaves. The leaves will die as a result. Use a good contact insecticide.

4/30/2013 11:59:44 PM

Simi valley, ca

I had fire ants on driveway ,nothing got rid of them completely, until i put some hot chilli pepper around ! I used ground chilli Arbol ,from Mexican store .69 cents ,They left the area !!

5/1/2013 5:40:48 PM