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.

Gareth.