"Gareth" wrote in message
...
I have 12 chilli plants in a greenhouse and a number of the plants have
been affected by ants - 1 in particular has clearly been damaged and isn't
bearing much if any fruit as a result of mechanical damage to the roots
caused by the ants.

I'm unclear as to why the ants are attracted to the plants but they are
and I guess that it's due to the nectar.

Does anyone have a suggestion of what insecticide I could use on the
plants to kill the ants? I really don't want to use insecticide and I
don't use it anywhere else in the garden or on other plants but I don't
think I have a choice.

Alternatively would an ant bait placed close to the plants do the trick?

I'm not going to have a surviving chilli plant left at the fast rate the
ants are destroying the plants - any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for the answers Phil and Pam. But there are no (visible) aphids on
the plants.

The ants also seem to be damaging the roots of the plants though their
mechanical operations.

I'm not sure what to do. Ants are difficult to kill by insecticide (that
will still allow the chillies to be eaten). I suspect that ant bait and a
longish wait and a bit of hope is the best option.

Gareth.