Date: Mon, 26 May 1997 11:27:58 +1200 (NZST) From: Heather Frederick <flytrap@ihug.co.nz> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2067$foo@default> Subject: Re: Ants in my plants
Hi Mark
> Here's my question. My greenhouse is being invaded with ants
>and I'm not sure who benefits the most; the plants or the ants. The
>ants obviously are after the sugary fluid but the plants are making a
>killing. The Sarrencenia especially are filling up with ant bodies and
>the smaller VTP's have many traps shut. Is there any chance the ants
>could introduce unwanted pests or diseases ? Should I watch nature
>take its course or use chemical warfare on the ants ?
I too have ants in my greenhouse. At first I didn't worry too much, just
more food for the Neps. How wrong I was. They make nests in the pots,
totally rearranging the structure of the potting mix in the process. When
they have finished destroying the mix they start on the Nep roots and the
plant dies.
They also bring in mealy bug, scale and aphids. Not so much of a problem in
the greenhouse which is sprayed regularly (this controls the imported pests,
but not the ants) but a big problem in my shadehouse where I keep my
Sarracenia. Mealy bug on the Sarra roots is the main problem there.
For the Sarras, when I repot I blast the roots and rhyzomes with the
pressure sprayer on the hose, this gets rid of most of them. However, one
cannot do that to Neps. Bait has not been effective. Take action now
before it's too late.
Toodles
Heather in New Zealand
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Heather Frederick
flytrap@ihug.co.nz
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