Not sure if this is a problem or not I have ants in the squash flowers, is this good , bad, or not an issue. Also in general are ants a problem? Thanks.
Ants in Squash flowers?
- Thread starter mlm65
- Start date
Chuck
Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2014
- Messages
- 11,615
- Reaction score
- 5,694
- Location
- La Porte Texas
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
BAD, depending on the ant and those ants look like the biting stinging variety. If they are they will bite the immature fruit. When the flower drops the fruit will become distorted and probably abort. Mainly you see this type of thing on okra but it can happen on any plant that has a large sweet bloom. Spray with spinosad, both the flowers and around the base of the plant. Watch where the ants go and find out where their nest is and drench the area where they go underground with a spinosad drench. In 2 days the nest will be gone
Ants also attract aphids. They team up with them. The aphid helps the ants have food, and the ants kills the beneficial bugs.
Chuck
Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2014
- Messages
- 11,615
- Reaction score
- 5,694
- Location
- La Porte Texas
- Hardiness Zone
- 8b
- Country
No, ants don't attract aphids, they actually farm them like cattle. They will go capture aphids and put them on a plant and then feed off of the honeydew