Red ants....

[BeckyW19]

Hi everyone,

I have red ants on my plot. I think they made a nest in some rotten wood left by the previous tenant which was used to make raised beds. The wood has been pulled up and left at the side of the plot until I can get the van to take it to the skip.

My question is, what is the best way to deal with them? As I think they are eating my crops.

I would like to avoid harmful insecticides if possible as I have a bumble bees nest on the plot (in a piece of carpet, also curtesy of the previous tenant).

I have attached a picture of my 'eaten' crops. Could be something else all together though. The holes appear on pretty much all of my seedlings.

Helpful advice is very welcome

Thanks for taking the time to read

[Shadylane]

Ants don't generally doo much harm to plants. They might nibble on strawbs if the slugs have made a hole and they like to farm aphids but other than that, they're nothing more than an annoyance. Wear gloves and boots and watch out for them crawling up your arm. If they get stuck down your glove or down your sock they tend to have a nibble which hurts a bit.

Oh and the holes in your leaves are probably flea beetle. Bit of a pain with direct sown brassicas like radishes, but if you grow other plants to a decent size before planting it won't be a problem.

[rustylady]

What Shadylane said. Ants don't eat plants.

[Florence Fennel]

Just a quickie - I've got loads of ants in one of my daleks, is that good or bad?

[Shadylane]

Well I suppose possibly a good thing, as they'll help aerate maybe(?). I always have ants in my compost bin and watering doesn't seem to make a difference. They're always gone by the winter though.

[mothhawk]

Just a quickie - I've got loads of ants in one of my daleks, is that good or bad?

I leave them undisturbed in mine 'cos I find they eat the larvae of those annoying little flies that you sometimes get in the dalek that rise up in a cloud when you take off the lid. On the downside, when there are ants in there, there never seem to be many worms...

[mothhawk]

Becky, unless the ants are where they will keep getting onto you and stinging, I would be inclined to leave them alone. There's an old thread here that will give you a few ideas about removal though.