Ants all over my PlANTS!! Mango to be specific

[fisherking73]

I was checking on my mangoes this evening (my ritual when I get home from work ) and noticed my Cogshall has red ants ALL over the pannicles and flowers. Is this harmful? Should I eradicate them?  I think they have made a home at the base of my tree.

[buddyguygreen]

pour club soda on the ant pile, does the trick plus im sure the carbon is good for the tree.

[fruitlovers]

Ants on their own are not harmful. But ants are usually on trees to mine other harmful pests and protect them, like aphids, mealy bugs, and scale. So you should check your tree carefully when you see ants, as they are a warning of possible pests.

[fisherking73]

If the ants themselfves are no danger to my tree or fruit, I don't mind them. Will let natuer do its thing.  Did not see anything thing else (pests) concerning. Interesting on the soda.

[Tropheus76]

I use they as a telltale that I have scale somewhere on the tree. See it from time to time on my lychee and strawberry trees, the ants give them away every time.

[fruitlovers]

I use they as a telltale that I have scale somewhere on the tree. See it from time to time on my lychee and strawberry trees, the ants give them away every time.

Sometimes you can have a few scout ants on your tree, just looking for potential food. But if you have lots of ants, then you're probably right: there are either aphids, scale, or mealy bugs on your tree if you look carefully.

[Waterfall]

They are actually good at pollinating mango trees, you will most likely find they leave once the flowers have gone and the fruit has set.

[fisherking73]

Will take a closer look tonight and look at images to see what in tarnations scales and aphids look like lol  Did not see anything that resembled anything. I do have a few sri lanka weavles I keep pulling off my lemon meringue.

[fruitlovers]

They are actually good at pollinating mango trees, you will most likely find they leave once the flowers have gone and the fruit has set.

The ants can also pollinate durian flowers, probably quite a few other fruit trees as well.

[Mangosurf]

I have had major problems with ants "farming" aphids and scale on my lychee and mango trees. I use a product called "Tanglefoot" on the trunk and it seems to stop the problem. I put a layer of tape down first then put the tanglefoot on top because young trees can be damaged with direct contact. Once the ants' highway is blocked the scale and aphids go away soon after.