Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Ants

SonnieBSonnieB Posts: 124
in Plants
I have 5 or 6 dhalias and I have noticed there are lots of ants on each of the plants especially the flower stem.  One flower has a black substance and ants crawling all over it.  Does anyone know, why so many ants and what is the black stuff.  I tried to take a pic, but it might not be clear




Any help would be appreciated 

Sonia 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The black stuff is aphids which the ants have carried on to your dahlias so they can suck sap and excrete honey dew which the ants take back to their nest.   They will defend the aphids from attack by their natural predators such as lace wings and lady birds.

    You can squish the aphids with your finger tips or blast them off with a jet of water form the hose but you need also to put down ant poison or move the dahlias to confuse them.  Another trick would be to stand the dahlias in shallow trays of water so the ants can't get to them for harvesting.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Are you sure they are ants...........I find my dahlias are prone to blackfly...........which I just wipe off using a tissue
  • EnthusiasticNewbieEnthusiasticNewbie Posts: 3
    If they're aphids, get some live ladybugs (you can order them even on Amazon): they will feast on them! 
  • SonnieBSonnieB Posts: 124
    @Mary370 they are definitely ants. 

    @Obelixx I don't think I will move them, I'll hose them and see what happens.   With regards to the ant POISON,  can I use ant powder.  Do I put it on the soil -  will it not affect other plants 

    Many thanks

    Sonia
Sign In or Register to comment.