Invasion of the ants..... (rant & questions)

[Nicky]

OK, I know they are gods creatures, I like spiders and most creepy crawlies (apart from slugs cos they ate my cabbages) but my allotment seems to be over-rub with ants. They're everywhere - in the muck heap, in the soil, anywhere I've mulched and even in the greenhouse. I found they'd made a nest in my bag of potting compost yesterday so had to throw a lot of it out as I couldn't work with so many of them running all over the place. The birds loved it though as I emptied it over one of the beds that's not in use at the moment. They just make you itch all over. When I'm weeding if I stay still for too long they climb all over my trainers and it's just too much.
Questions are:
1, will they do any harm to my seedlings or plants.
2, is there anything I can do to persuade them to move on.
3, If they can't be persuaded to leave using non lethal methods what can I do to get rid of some of them. I'll let some stay just need to have some space between them and me.

[kirsty b]

What sort of ants are they?
I have several red ant nests on my plot and they are nasty little buggers with a bite to match.

1) They won't eat your plants but they will farm aphids to get the honeydew they secrete which is not good 'cos aphids can spread viruses to your plants which will damage them.
2) tipping boiling water where the nest is is a quick, non-chemical way of killing them.

Not sure about the third question really. I don't mind black ants 'cos they are fairly friendly and don't bite, but reds? Personally I'd go for lethal methods

Kirsty

[cheshire61]

With the milder winters we are having ants etc seem to be more of a problem they will eat young seedlings as i have found out on my allotment im afraid the only answer is ant powder as they will carry this back to there nest and destroy the colany it wont do any harm to your plants

[Nicky]

The ants seem to be all shades of colour - black, red and some fly - yuk!!!
I'm sure I've been bitten by them as well so if they're going to attack my seedlings they'll get the same 'welcome' as the slugs......

[rustylady]

Ants don't eat plants, however they do farm aphids which harm plants, they also cause harm to plants by tunneling below and through their roots. Ants don't like being disturbed, so regular cultivation helps to deter them (bad news for people with no-dig beds). They also prefer light soil and are a real problem round here. Even ant powder is not a long term solution - if anyone has an answer, please post. By the way, eldest daughter has seen me pour boiling water on suspected ants nests under the patio (through the cracks). This works (temporarily at least), but she tried it on a swarm of ants on the lawn last summer and killed the grass as well as the ants.

[Flummery]

We have them (black) in our front path and drive. They come up between the concrete slabs of the drive with accompanying puff of fine sand, and the sparrows love them. They pick off the ants to eat and bath in the dust! However, Mr Flum is convinced that they will have tunnelled and undermined the drive and one day it will collapse into a big black hole! I'm happy to watch the sparrows' antics. If we get a hole, I'll get it filled in!

[noidea]

There has been a really bad ant problem round our way for the past few years. Even the hospitals were banning fruit from the side of patients bed last year as they were coming in their millions into wards.

The worst of it only seems to last 3-4 weeks then they are off again till next year. I have them climbing over my strawberries at the moment which is really driving me crazy! they get everywhere!!!!

I gave birth to my 2nd son at home in 2004 and was watching them trying to come out from under the fireplace in my livingroom! Most disconcerting in labour, let me tell you!

Have never found a full proof way to get rid of them though do hate cloves.

C

[moggssue]

I have a problem with red ants too - used to use boiling water but dont want to pour it on my veg plot obviously! How harmful is ant powder? OH bought some at the weekend but I havent let him use it yet just in case - but I do have to do SOMETHING to get rid of the b****rs. Every time I weed it seems I disturb a nest or two, and even mowing the lawn sends them scattering everywhere.

[Dobby]

you can try borax its a laundry agent mix i part suger one part borax the ants will take this to the Queen ant and kill it then the outher ants will leave th nest
next try viniger cheap value viniger will do it will make your plot smell like the local chippy for a bit
carnt think of anything else apart from ant powder I thing growing success do an organic one
hope this helps
I know we have a ants nest in the green house Will have to do someting about it next week as im band from the plot at the moment

[beach chick]

oh I hate them! does anyone know what they are actually FOR???

[Cutecumber]

they are for feeding anteaters, of course!

There is a biological control which does not kill the ants but irritates them enough to make them move on. I haven't tried it, but if you really have big problems it could be worth a go.

It is a nematode preparation which you dilute in water and sprinkle on.

Available from places like Green Gardener and Scarletts who do the other bio controls as well.

Here is a link http://www.greengardener.co.uk/repel.htm

[beach chick]

I KNEW I should have got an anteater instead of the chickens...
I dont think I like the idea of irritated ants, or where they might move on to - I find them a bit sinister!

[tinyvine]

Hi
I started a similar thread a few days ago but no one has posted on it yet!! So glad there is another one. I have loads of red ants, they are eating my carots!! rocket and swiss chard, I know its them because I've caught them at it! I've caught some of them in my 'squash traps' too. If you put down ant powder - does anyone know if its dangerous to birds who might be feeding on the ants? (if they are i'd wish they'd eat the lot!)

Thankyou!!
x

[beach chick]

tinyvine - you raise an interesting point there. how come I've fed the birds all winter, but they are not paying me back now and eating the aphids and ants??? I had to spray the other day coz the green fly were totally rampant. don't like doing it, but the birds were not doing their job...

[Dobby]

we had to spray the toms that are in the house we used a garlc spray seems to work
but I must agree there are far more ants this year than I have ever seen before its due to the wether not desont frost to kill um of