Re: How Rid of Black Ants
Valerie Munro
Several species of ants occurs in gardens, including the black ant Lasius niger, the yellow meadow ant Lassius favus and red ants of various Myrmica species. They are often seen on plants that are infested with aphids and other sap-sucking insects.
The ants are there not to eat the plants, but to collect the sticky honeydew substance that the sap-suckers excrete, having had a good feed on the plant sap.
Ants can be reduced in numbers but they cannot be eliminated totally. There are generally more of a nuisance than a pest. In fact, rigorous attempts to eliminate nests may increase the survival rate of queens flying in from nearby gardens, and lead to even more nests in the near future.
Control measures should be confined to nests which are causing real problems. If you can control the aphid population, you will cut off this one supply of food for the ants, and they might slink off someplace else in search of nourishment. There are a number of products on the market that will help you with controlling aphids. It is important to read and follow the label instructions carefully
I hope that this helps - good luck
Auntie Planty
www.auntieplanty.com
Replied: Wednesday 2nd of June 2010 07:27 PM
