Annoying Aphids and Ants!

Marc10edora

Marc10edora

Avid Member
I have a hibiscus plant that gets aphids on a regular basis. I just spray them off with a water hose. They usually don't walk back up the plant. One day I noticed that after I spray them off, there are ants that pick them up and bring them back to where they were. What the heck is going on? How can I get rid of both pests safely?
 
Marc10edora said:
I have a hibiscus plant that gets aphids on a regular basis. I just spray them off with a water hose. They usually don't walk back up the plant. One day I noticed that after I spray them off, there are ants that pick them up and bring them back to where they were. What the heck is going on? How can I get rid of both pests safely?
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Thats a good one and very interesting. I would think ant traps may help with the ants (kill the colony). you are doing the safest thing to get rid of the aphids. Ants are sure a pain this year.

An ant eater will solve all your problems. Then you will need something to eat the ant eater. I don't know. Sounds like the unstoppable circle of life.

Save the cheerleader save the world.
 
Get rid of the aphid, most likely you'll get rid of the ants.

try praying mantis or Lady bugs.
Do be careful, Ants eat praying mantis hatchlings :mad:

as far as ants... if this is in the garden, you'll pretty soon attract some spiders with that ants running around.

If you let the spiders to thrive they will help you clean out the ants.

Unfortunately, Black Widows will also be attracted since they do voraciously eat ants.
 
Ryan Jarosek said:
Thats a good one and very interesting. I would think ant traps may help with the ants (kill the colony). you are doing the safest thing to get rid of the aphids. Ants are sure a pain this year.

An ant eater will solve all your problems. Then you will need something to eat the ant eater. I don't know. Sounds like the unstoppable circle of life.

Save the cheerleader save the world.
Click to expand...

where do i get an ant eater? :D
I will take 3 or 4 of those! I really do need them.
blue214.jpg
 
If it's legal in CA, I am SO gonna get it.
Maybe charge the neighbors for ant patrol fee. :D
 
dodolah said:
Get rid of the aphid, most likely you'll get rid of the ants.

try praying mantis or Lady bugs.
Do be careful, Ants eat praying mantis hatchlings :mad:

as far as ants... if this is in the garden, you'll pretty soon attract some spiders with that ants running around.

If you let the spiders to thrive they will help you clean out the ants.

Unfortunately, Black Widows will also be attracted since they do voraciously eat ants.
Click to expand...

I tried praying mantids, But the hatchlings got eaten like you said. Lady bugs won't work because they're toxic. I saw an ant eater for sale on Fauna classifieds.
 
Ants and aphids have a symbiotic relationship so it kind pays for the ants to take care of the aphids. Lady bugs eat the aphids but they are toxic to chams.

Your other option is to spray with a soap water mixture. then rinse off after it has sat for a little while.

Hope that helps

OPI
 
try ladybug larvae, those arent toxic, then only thing that makes them toxic is eating aphids that eat milkweed plants that are toxic, like monarchs, if you buy some of the ladybugs for like the school kits they are fine
 
Its to bad you don't have mantellas they love ants and aphids. Also hatchling chameleons will eat aphids with gusto because they taste sweet from all the plant juices they suck up.
 
Rubbing a banana skin on the plants will deter aphids. A slightly soapy water spray can help. As can a chyrsanthemum (cant spell it) spray.

Ants "farm" aphids, so getting rid of one will get rid of the other.
 
sandrachameleon said:
Rubbing a banana skin on the plants will deter aphids. A slightly soapy water spray can help. As can a chyrsanthemum (cant spell it) spray.

Ants "farm" aphids, so getting rid of one will get rid of the other.
Click to expand...

I'll have to try the banana skin. Lol...I hope your not playing a joke on me.
 
Marc10edora said:
I'll have to try the banana skin. Lol...I hope your not playing a joke on me.
Click to expand...

No joke! Do a google search and Im sure you'll find others that suggest it.

I usually use lady beetles for aphid control in my greenhouse, but I've tried the banana peel method before with pretty good results. use the inside of the peel. Dont get actual banana fruit on the plant (as it would attract fruit flies). Its better as a repelant to ward off an infestation, but it will still help your current situation.

Another option: put all these (or most - its okay to leave one or two things out if you dont have them handy) into a blender, blend until everything is smooth and runny, strain out the bits, let sit for 24 hours, paint on or spray on plants. It keeps all sorts of bugs away.
-a banana peel
-1 tablespoon of dish washing liquid
-4 or so cups of water (need not be exact)
-a cigar butt (or a couple cigarette butts (no filters) or a pinch of chewing tobaco)
-a few tablespoons of a cola drink
-a clove of garlic
-1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
-1/4 cup fresh mint
-tablespoon or 2 of horseradish


*Warning: Tobacco spray is very good for killing bugs such as aphids and caterpillars. But don't use this solution on peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any other member of the solanaceous family. Tobacco chemicals can kill these types of plants! Also dont use on a plant from which you are soon to harvest fruit, unless you want the fruit to taste awful ;)
 
Marc10edora said:
That's an awesome tip. I'm definitely gonna try it out. Do you keep your chams in the greenhouse too?
Click to expand...

Too darn cold here most of the year, too hot in the greenhouse the rest of the year! So my chameleons are indoors 99% of the time. Some of their plants rotate from cage to greenhouse then back to cage - plants are hardier!

If you try the recipie, Im thinking you should leave out the hot stuff and maybe not use the tobacoo (though its effective) cuz if your chams eat leaves it might be bad for them too - or even if they free-range feed, in case the hot stuff hurts thier tongues? The banana peel wont hurt anyone, so I hope that helps!
 
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