ANTS in my tomato container

April 7, 2006

A colony of ants (small, black variety) has moved in to one of my 5-gal containers housing a 6-inch Super Bush.

Harmful? Should I get rid of the buggers?

Thx
J

**mdvpc** · April 7, 2006

Get rid of them. You can use de (diatomaceous earth) and it will do the job for you. It has to be dry to work. Follow directions on the package.

valereee · May 12, 2006

Why are ants bad?

**mdvpc** · May 12, 2006

If you google ant+aphid there is a lot of info about problems. Here is one:

Some ants actually care for and "farm" other insects! Aphids, scale insects and mealybugs suck the sap of plants. These insects can't use all the sugar that they get from the plants, so they excrete "honeydew", which the ants collect to feed the colony. Ants will transport aphids from plant to plant and take the eggs into their colony for the winter. Ants will also defend aphids from insect predators, such as lady beetles and lacewings, by attacking them in large numbers.

valereee · May 12, 2006

Okay, so it isn't the ants themselves so much as that they may bring aphids with them -- thanks!

Val

Worth1 · May 31, 2006

Hey J

Malto meal works too.
Thats what I use on fire ants, just let the soil get dry.
I heared the things eat the stuff and blow up.

Worth

**coronabarb** · May 31, 2006

I'd love to watch ants blow up!!! 8)

Seriously, ants set up camp in the root systems of my tomatoes when the plants are young and it seems to affect growth. I don't have the scientific explanation for it (keith?), but they are up to no good, burrowing around in there. And then, there are the aphids too...

Barb, in Antshillvania

valereee · May 31, 2006

I wonder if it's a regional thing with certain kinds of soils? The living-in-the-roots thing? Because in a sandy soil, maybe the tomato roots offer more stability for their little tunnels?

And the ants do like my raised beds. Maybe it's because of the nice loose soil relative to our dense Ohio Valley clay!

Val

April 7, 2006	#1
Colonel Compost Guest Posts: n/a	ANTS in my tomato container A colony of ants (small, black variety) has moved in to one of my 5-gal containers housing a 6-inch Super Bush. Harmful? Should I get rid of the buggers? Thx J

April 7, 2006	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Get rid of them. You can use de (diatomaceous earth) and it will do the job for you. It has to be dry to work. Follow directions on the package. __________________ Michael

May 12, 2006	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	If you google ant+aphid there is a lot of info about problems. Here is one: Some ants actually care for and "farm" other insects! Aphids, scale insects and mealybugs suck the sap of plants. These insects can't use all the sugar that they get from the plants, so they excrete "honeydew", which the ants collect to feed the colony. Ants will transport aphids from plant to plant and take the eggs into their colony for the winter. Ants will also defend aphids from insect predators, such as lady beetles and lacewings, by attacking them in large numbers. __________________ Michael

May 12, 2006	#3
valereee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 6a SW Ohio Posts: 135	Why are ants bad?

May 31, 2006	#6
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Hey J Malto meal works too. Thats what I use on fire ants, just let the soil get dry. I heared the things eat the stuff and blow up. Worth

May 31, 2006	#7
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	I'd love to watch ants blow up!!! 8) Seriously, ants set up camp in the root systems of my tomatoes when the plants are young and it seems to affect growth. I don't have the scientific explanation for it (keith?), but they are up to no good, burrowing around in there. And then, there are the aphids too... Barb, in Antshillvania