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Ants! Damn Ants!

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Carbo:
For quite a while I've been battling ants in and around my mango tree.  I see their colonies at the base of the tree.  I have sprinkled this product http://www.spectracide.com/Products-and-Solutions/Triazicide/Spectracide-Triazicide-Insect-Killer-Once-and-DoneTM-Granules.aspx numerous times but with no noticeable affect.  They are up and down and throughout the tree with reckless abandon, so I decided to wrap some duct tape, (sticky side out), around the trunk.  My poor man's Tanglefoot, I suppose.
Well, these must be the wisest ants ever encountered because now I have two shimmering masses of ants, one above and one below the band of tape.  They're too smart to cross it and die, so they are massing. . .for who knows what?
What's attracting them to the tree in the first place and how do I control these buggers?

FlyingFoxFruits:

--- Quote from: Carbo on January 28, 2012, 05:59:18 PM ---For quite a while I've been battling ants in and around my mango tree.  I see their colonies at the base of the tree.  I have sprinkled this product http://www.spectracide.com/Products-and-Solutions/Triazicide/Spectracide-Triazicide-Insect-Killer-Once-and-DoneTM-Granules.aspx numerous times but with no noticeable affect.  They are up and down and throughout the tree with reckless abandon, so I decided to wrap some duct tape, (sticky side out), around the trunk.  My poor man's Tanglefoot, I suppose.
Well, these must be the wisest ants ever encountered because now I have two shimmering masses of ants, one above and one below the band of tape.  They're too smart to cross it and die, so they are massing. . .for who knows what?
What's attracting them to the tree in the first place and how do I control these buggers?

--- End quote ---

Not all ants are a problem, sometime they are more helpful than you think...it could be you don't even need to kill them...my trees are loaded with ants and scale, and they fruit just fine..Some have no scale or ants as well, it just depends I guess

If they are a problem, and fostering sucking insects that you want to exterminate...maybe use borax and sugar...I hear this simple formula kills them well.  Look up the proper recipe on google.  And maybe apply some neem for those scale, or merritt, systemic evil poison... :'( :)

fruitlovers:
Liquid dishwashing soap kills ants on contact. Use one teaspoon per handheld sprayers. You could combine with foliar fertilizer and fertilize your tree while getting rid of the ants.
Oscar

Carbo:

--- Quote from: fruitlovers on January 28, 2012, 08:05:31 PM ---Liquid dishwashing soap kills ants on contact. . .
Oscar
--- End quote ---
Really?  I hadn't heard that before. . .you're sure I won't just be giving them all nice showers??  ;)

fruitlovers:

--- Quote from: Carbo on January 28, 2012, 08:10:03 PM ---
--- Quote from: fruitlovers on January 28, 2012, 08:05:31 PM ---Liquid dishwashing soap kills ants on contact. . .
Oscar
--- End quote ---
Really?  I hadn't heard that before. . .you're sure I won't just be giving them all nice showers??  ;)

--- End quote ---

Used it many times, works 100%. If you don't believe me you can test it on a few ants. Chemical companies don't want you to know that liquid dishwashing soak kills most insects. They'd rather you buy their expensive products and poison yourself and the environment.
Oscar

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