Sudden Ant Death on Tomatoes

peebee · June 9, 2012

This is really weird. I have a vegetable in-ground bed at my workplace with about 20 tomatoes growing, all healthy so far. On only one plant I noticied several ants crawling all over the top this past Thurs as I was leaving. Decided to inspect closer for possible aphids the next morning (yesterday). Imagine my surprise when I see lots of tiny dark spots on the leaves, so I think AHA! Those are the culprits...but when I look closer, I realize they were all dead ants! Not a single one was alive or walking around now. No one has access to insecticide, its a small company and only one more person really tends to it besides me. There are only warehouses nearby, not densely spaced at all, and this happened overnight so I know there was no yard maintenance going on to explain this sudden death.

What could be a possible explanation? There is no damage to the leaves or plant in question, just these shriveled ants. No aphids or anything anywhere, over or under the leaves.

Puzzled

janezee · June 17, 2012

I guess I'd not be too hungry for those tomatoes!

j

delltraveller · June 17, 2012

Are the tomatoes a pretty 'hairy' variety? Perhaps they were fatally wounded by the protective hairs on the tomato stem while crawling up?

I find dead ants on my tomatoes once in awhile, although usually it's just one or two or three at a time.

brengolio · June 17, 2012

wow............ never heard of anything like that

Heritage · June 17, 2012

Yes, delltraveller is right. Tomato hairs on the stems kill insects. If I get a lot of ants "farming" aphids on my plants, the stems will be covered with dead (or dying) ants.

Steve

janezee · June 17, 2012

That is so cool! I didn't know that. Thanks!

j

peebee · June 19, 2012

Come to think of it, the plant in question (and I don't remember what variety as I'm not at the office plot now) DID have awfully bumpy stems. I remember running my fingers over them cuz at first I thought they were green bugs, but they were just bumps.

Guess that explains it then. Thanks for all the new things I learn here at T'Ville!

BLTLOVER · June 19, 2012

The leaves and stems of a tomato plant (nightshade) are toxic.

June 9, 2012	#1
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Sudden Ant Death on Tomatoes This is really weird. I have a vegetable in-ground bed at my workplace with about 20 tomatoes growing, all healthy so far. On only one plant I noticied several ants crawling all over the top this past Thurs as I was leaving. Decided to inspect closer for possible aphids the next morning (yesterday). Imagine my surprise when I see lots of tiny dark spots on the leaves, so I think AHA! Those are the culprits...but when I look closer, I realize they were all dead ants! Not a single one was alive or walking around now. No one has access to insecticide, its a small company and only one more person really tends to it besides me. There are only warehouses nearby, not densely spaced at all, and this happened overnight so I know there was no yard maintenance going on to explain this sudden death. What could be a possible explanation? There is no damage to the leaves or plant in question, just these shriveled ants. No aphids or anything anywhere, over or under the leaves. Puzzled

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June 17, 2012	#2
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	I guess I'd not be too hungry for those tomatoes! j

June 17, 2012	#3
delltraveller Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 481	Are the tomatoes a pretty 'hairy' variety? Perhaps they were fatally wounded by the protective hairs on the tomato stem while crawling up? I find dead ants on my tomatoes once in awhile, although usually it's just one or two or three at a time.

June 17, 2012	#4
brengolio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: prairieville la Posts: 132	wow............ never heard of anything like that

June 17, 2012	#5
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	Yes, delltraveller is right. Tomato hairs on the stems kill insects. If I get a lot of ants "farming" aphids on my plants, the stems will be covered with dead (or dying) ants. Steve

June 19, 2012	#7
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Come to think of it, the plant in question (and I don't remember what variety as I'm not at the office plot now) DID have awfully bumpy stems. I remember running my fingers over them cuz at first I thought they were green bugs, but they were just bumps. Guess that explains it then. Thanks for all the new things I learn here at T'Ville!

June 19, 2012	#8
BLTLOVER Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 90	The leaves and stems of a tomato plant (nightshade) are toxic.