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

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.