4 ms·
I've been battling aphid farming ants in my garden for years now. It's kind of fun to watch them tend their aphids but they wreak havock on plants. I've used
by jcoffland 10y ago
I've been battling aphid farming ants in my garden for years now. It's kind of fun to watch them tend their aphids but they wreak havock on plants. I've used diatomaceous earth to repel the ants. It acts like tiny shards of glass that gets caught in exoskeletons. The ants hate it. But it's ineffective of it gets wet. I'm interested in trying Tanglefoot. Anyone have experience with this product?
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- vinchuco 10y agoNot sure about the product. But careful about silicosis when using diatomaceous earth.
- Jedd 10y agoPermaculturists have been using physical methods for years to stop ants protecting aphid herds -- you may not need any chemicals at all. Hunt around for some half-donut shapes that clip around the trunk that you can fill with water. (I can't find any pics after a quick search, but I know they exist.) Otherwise, maybe something mild like a vaseline barrier - probably need to protect from the rain, of course.
- internaut 10y ago> Permaculturists have been using physical methods for years to stop ants protecting aphid herds I feel like the animals would (if they had good PR) depict us as the worst conspiratorial puppet-masters and we would thoroughly deserve it.
- foxhop 10y agoI think its crazy how they guard the "live stock". Touch a leaf near an aphid and you will have 2-3 ants on your arm almost instantly. I've even seen ants guarding plants that don't even have any aphids on it yet. Aphids can grow wings but ants clip them to prevent flight?!? Amazing microcosm, it reflects what humans do at a much smaller scale. Makes me seriously wonder what types are larger structures there are out there in the universe.