In a bit of a predicament...

[LittleBear]

Well, i've finally got my little plants big enough to be planted out and the slugs have decided to help themselves so ive bought some nemaslug, being in a tunnel it may work a little better than outside?

Anyway as well as slugs ive been over run with red and black ants (which i should have seen coming as they take over our lawn every year.

THe question is this, should i get a namatode to get rid of the ants as i have soft fruit growing in there or should i leave them be to eat the aphids?

Ive tried boiling water on the lawn, as well as borax and many other delightful thinks but dont much fancy putting chemicals or boiling water over my veg.

Any clues what to do cos my ankles are getting bitten to s**t?

[Two_Sheds]

ants ....should i leave them be to eat the aphids

ants don't eat aphids, they farm (protect) them ... they eat the honeydew that aphids secrete

You need Nippon or similar for ants

[LittleBear]

would i be better buying nippon or something sim or something like nemasys?

[smallblueplanet]

I'd be interested to know how effective 'nemasys' is against ants as we regularly get them in the greenhouse and I don't use chemicals.

[w33blegurl]

I've also seen the nematode stuff for ants, but have yet to try it - we have ants ALL over the garden so would cost a small fortune. I've read on another thread that polenta or semolina is also good (and obviously chemical free for your produce). The workers take it back to the nest and it makes the queen explode or something gross like that...??

[LittleBear]

yeah, ive read that too, tried it a little while ago, not to sure if it worked so well as i was still over run after. maybe ive got a fat queen that needs more?

[LittleBear]

ive boiled some and (on the pattio) and put the nemaslug on and i dont know if its luck or it actullay works but i aint seen a slug in ma tunnel since (4 days)

[snohare]

I remember reading that Nutrasweet is actually a good antkiller. Put it near to the nest, the ants take it home, feed it to the queen in large quantities, it kills her. Makes sense, since it is in fact chlorinated sugar - an ungodly, toxic idea, in my opinion.

[LittleBear]

well i went in to my tunnel today and something has polished off a whole tub of carrot seedlings and 10 plugs of basil seedlings!

[snohare]

Is there a Littler Bear in the house ?