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Old 25-03-2003, 02:44 PM
Jim Lewis
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

I have several fig trees in a hot house. Unfortunately several
trees have
been infested with ants. The little blighters are in the soil

in the pot and
crawling into crevices in the folds of the branches. I've tried

immersing
the pots in water, spraying insect spray but to no avail. They

just run up
out of the soil carrying their eggs and I can kill lots of them

with the
spray but they back a week later just as bad. trees are healthy

though.


Sprays are no good with ants. They kill the ants they contact,
but there always are more.

First, be certain there are no aphids or other sucking insects
that produce "honeydew" if there are, the ants will _always_ be
back.

Next, find an "ant bait" in granular form. Most nurseries should
carry one of more brands. I can't recommend a brand or type
because I don't know what is registered for use by your
government. But there's bound to be one.

Ants take these baits inside the nest (which also may be
somewhere other than just in your pots) and feed it to the queen.
It may take a couple of doses over a 2-week period. Follow label
directions, and don't overdo because you sprinkle this stuff on
the soil and it will exist in relatively high concentration there
(in the pot); more so than spreading it on open land.

Third, remember . . . the ants aren't hurting your trees.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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Old 25-03-2003, 03:20 PM
Cedric Rouvrais
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

Hi Jim,

Third, remember . . . the ants aren't hurting your trees.


That's funny i always thought that ants would cut leaves, take them to
the nest.
The ants would then feed these leaves to insects that produce, as an
offset of their eating the leaves, an element that is eaten by ants.

Come to think of it, if i remember well they use the leaves to nurish a
certain type of fungus.

Although i'm not to sure if this applies to all ants species, from the
far reaches of my mind it seams to me that only a specific "leaf cutting
ant" does
this.
For some reason i have this "parasol" or para something in my mind.

My penny to the thread,

Cedric




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Old 25-03-2003, 04:32 PM
Jim Lewis
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

Hi Jim,

Third, remember . . . the ants aren't hurting your trees.


That's funny i always thought that ants would cut leaves, take

them to
the nest.
The ants would then feed these leaves to insects that produce,

as an
offset of their eating the leaves, an element that is eaten by

ants.

Come to think of it, if i remember well they use the leaves to

nurish a
certain type of fungus.

Although i'm not to sure if this applies to all ants species,

from the
far reaches of my mind it seams to me that only a specific

"leaf cutting
ant" does
this.
For some reason i have this "parasol" or para something in my

mind.


The various common yard ants don't damage plants. Even fire
ants, the exotic scourge of the SE US don't damage plants. Leaf
cutter ants (and there are several species, and a couple of
genera) are more likely to be found in wooded and damp areas, not
in pots. A few species, including Atta texana, which is found in
Texas and Louisiana, are in the southern US, but most of the
others, including the second Genus (Acromyrex sp.) are tropical.
Their nests are VERY large (I recall a reference to 20 feet), so
you'll not find them in bonsai pots.

They used to be a major southern US agricultural pest (citrus,
etc.), but seem to be chemically controlled, these days. I don't
know how big a problem they are in the tropics.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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Old 25-03-2003, 05:20 PM
dalecochoy
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Lewis"
Subject: [IBC] ant infestation


Hi Jim,

Third, remember . . . the ants aren't hurting your trees.


That's funny i always thought that ants would cut leaves, take

them to
the nest.


Guys,
Please note the "ant stuff" in the gallery under Wolfgangs pictures titled
"The SNAKE, a Larix" or something like that.
I've always bit my tongue at "ants in the soil are eating my bonsai"
questions.
After 25 years I can say it's mostly "Urban Legend".

Now, termites, or ants in already dead portions are another story.
OK, bring it on!!
Dale

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Old 25-03-2003, 05:32 PM
Len Arzoomanian , BonsaiRI
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

Guys,
Please note the "ant stuff" in the gallery under Wolfgangs pictures titled
"The SNAKE, a Larix" or something like that.
I've always bit my tongue at "ants in the soil are eating my bonsai"
questions.
After 25 years I can say it's mostly "Urban Legend".

Now, termites, or ants in already dead portions are another story.
OK, bring it on!!
Dale


Dale

True BUT, ants could be a sign of aphids which do hurt your trees so look for aphids and get rid of them and your ants will most likely pack up and LEAVE (No pun intended)!

Len

PLEASE NOTE MY NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS:

http://www.bonsairi.com
http://www.rhodeislandbonsaisociety.org

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Old 25-03-2003, 05:44 PM
dalecochoy
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

----- Original Message -----
From: "Len Arzoomanian (BonsaiRI)" Subject: [IBC] ant infestation


Guys,
Please note the "ant stuff" in the gallery under Wolfgangs pictures

titled
"The SNAKE, a Larix" or something like that.
I've always bit my tongue at "ants in the soil are eating my bonsai"
questions.
After 25 years I can say it's mostly "Urban Legend".
Now, termites, or ants in already dead portions are another story.
OK, bring it on!!
Dale



Dale
True BUT, ants could be a sign of aphids which do hurt your trees so look

for aphids and get rid of them and your ants will most likely pack up and
LEAVE (No pun intended)!
Len


Len,
Well most people know the "honey dew" story, ants harvesting aphids, etc.
but, the second part isn't exactly true. I've had many ant "farms" in
pots/collection boxes without aphids ( as in Wolfgangs "Larix" posts in
gallery). Because you have ants, doesn't mean you have aphids...and vice
versa!
Regards,
Dale Cochoy, Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware

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************************************************** ******************************
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Old 25-03-2003, 06:20 PM
Cedric Rouvrais
 
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Default [IBC] ant infestation

Hi Len,

Thanks for the detail, i was confusing the fact that ants sometimes farm
aphids for the honeydew produced with ants cutting leaves to harvest
some yummy fungi (

Cedric



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