Ants
Posted on June 26th, 2006 By ljrobinson at 1:49 pm (All)
What the heck are these ants doing? They’re coating a burdock plant with something that looks suspiciously like dirt. We have the world’s biggest ant hills on our property. I guess now they’re moving up?
Brad K. said,
June 26, 2006 at 9:44 pm
On some flowers I know ants have been noted for herding aphids. Dust for aphids, and see if the ants lose interest in the plants. I doubt they will confine their interest solely to burdock.
I have been told that ants only get active at 75 degrees fahrenheit and above — have you noticed this, too?
ljrobinson said,
June 27, 2006 at 7:09 am
Thanks Brad. I just went out and looked more closely and the “dirt” is definitely spent aphid carcasses.
I found this website (http://www.richsoil.com/antsandaphids/index.jsp) which sort of chronicles a battle to get the ants and the aphids off of an apple tree using organic methods.
The only thing I’ve been able to find regarding ants becoming active only at 75 degrees is a website (http://www.pestcontrol-products.com/ant_facts.htm) that mentions this as an optimal temperature for mating to occur. I’m pretty sure, but couldn’t swear to it that I’ve seen a lot of activity on the ant hills on days cooler than 75 degrees but I have to admit I usually notice them most when I’ve inadvertently disturbed them.
Lacy said,
June 27, 2006 at 2:44 pm
I’m fascinated by this ants and aphids relationship! I just asked this question to a garden-y friend of mine last week (I have an ant/aphid problem on my canteloupe) and was told the same thing! Weird…. slave aphids…