[Nigel Bolton]

Now drier weather is here, it is easier to look for ants nests by the thrown heaps of soil. It is a good time to try and eradicate ants nests before they get too large, as smaller amounts of dust powder need be applied.

The black ant is one that needs culling, especially near the flower/vegetable plot, as it is these types of ants that heard green-fly and black-fly, especially on fruit trees and on beans. Broad beans and runner beans can be especially affected by aphids. Black ants carry aphids from plant to plant, and it can be just a few days from having pest-free beans to having plants so seriously affected that the only course is to destroy.

Also a good time to rid the garden of woodlice. Keeping the growing area free of old rotting wood is a must. Ant powder will also keep woodlice numbers down.

N.

[mrfizz]

I tend to have problems with ants nests underneath the lawn. I've seen these 'nematodes' advertised as the answer. Any experience of using these? They say it doesn't kill the ants, it just annoys them so they move away.

[Azores Hi]

The nematodes work well, but they must be well watered in and used when the ground is wet and rain is due. Steinernema feltiae is the one you want. Soil temperature needs to be 10C+.
Also on the subject of ants, I also hate the aphid attacks on my beans! But most of the ant powders on the market contain products harmfull to bees so I tend not to use them. Instead I delay planting by a few weeks which avoids the worst of the issue and then I treat with a non insecticidal spray (eg eradicoat) as soon as the first aphids appear. Ladybirds are quick to take advantage of the Aphids when you do this.
As for woodlice, I've never ever had an issue with them other than a bit of cosmetic damage to leaves which touch the ground. In my experience, woodlice are a bonus in the garden as they recycle the dead/decaying matter.

[scrapemedic]

I always find that ants like to make their nests under something, like under the tarpauline on the greeen house floor, under the flagstones, under a marrow I left on a bare patch of soil for a few weeks. Matbe the trick is not to leave anything near the beans for the ants to make thier nests under.

[Nigel Bolton]

Black ants make their nests anywhere, and will periodically move. In thie dry spell we have now, look for the thrown soil, especially up against walls. Disturb the soil to bring the ants to the top, then spray carefully with dust, making sure the wind does not blow the powder, especially towards any pond. The nest should die in a few hours as dusty ants will enter underground to protect the Queen, and kill her in the process. This is best done now when the nests are small as trying to control when the nests are big in the summer, particularly before swarming time is nigh on impossible.

N.

[Nigel Bolton]

Expect a sudden increase in the next few days as warmth penetrating the soil at long last will help incubate the eggs. Black ant nests will proliferate under stones and pathways, in walls and the compost heap. Common yellow ants, (they are orange), make fine particalled heaps that will rapidly and seriously disfigure the lawn.

N.

[scrapemedic]

It will be interesting to see it they set up farm on my broad beans which have been black fly free up till now.

[Nigel Bolton]

Just found a massive, and I mean MASSIVE nest in the compost heap. Tens of thousands of workers, winged queens, drones and piles of pupae, probably enough to fill a bucket. Have fumigated, shame as I wanted to use the newly formed compost to fill a flower bed I am making for my wife.

N.

[scrapemedic]

Flying ants! everywhere this evening.

[Nigel Bolton]

Flying ants here in Devon, but not a great number. Have gone to great lengths to eradicate ants nests this year, with reasonable success.

N.

[Bazmundo]

I've managed to disrupt the black ants farming aphids on the rose bush, but haven't seen any take flight yet. Spare a thought, I hear they get attacked on the way out of their own nests because they smell different? :o

[Dave W]

Sorry if its a silly question but why is this thread called MrUfki?

[chrisips]

Quote

scrapemedic - 19/7/2010 21:36

Flying ants! everywhere this evening.

Yeah huge swarms of them here too for a couple of hours, i left the sunroofs up on the car when i went to Asda and came out to find them all over the inside of the car. I think they were mating the large ones all had small ones hanging off them.

[Ed wxman]

Quote

Dave W - 19/7/2010 23:14 Sorry if its a silly question but why is this thread called MrUfki?

I fear that a decree nisi is in the post...yours, MrsMrufki  :D

 

No ants as yet, now that we're half way into Summer a rather uneventful ant and erm yes TSwise..

[Allenh]

Large Flying Ant swarms here tonight which in turn became dinner for large groups of Swifts and Gulls that took advantage of them.

[Flatlander]

Quote

Dave W - 19/7/2010 23:14
Sorry if its a silly question but why is this thread called MrUfki?

http://pl.wikipedia....Mr%C3%B3wkowate

??

Anyway, flying ant day was here today...


There is obviously a trigger as to when ants fly, but I'm not sure what it is. Temperature only? Temperature and humidity?

[Nigel Bolton]

Have suddenly become a problem again down here. Dug up a heavily pupated nest in the bean patch whilst weeding, and later stood on another whilst removing some plums from the tree. Looks like they are preparing to swarm for a second time, which may imply a very humid spell in a week or so's time.

N.

[Jason Smith]

I always thought it was to do with the last of the warmest day of Summer. My Grandad always used to say, 'watch out for the flying ants as when they take to the sky it's because they know it will be the last of the warm days of Summer'? Maybe there is a myth to it but it has always been clear warm days and toward the end of Summer that they seem to take flight.

[s70rmp]

we've got the flying ants here at the moment, first time this year - God I hate them, already used 2 cans of the red raid on them !

funny thing is normall the birds are here to help by eating them but no birds at all at the moment !

[John Mason]

Zap the ants with chems and no bird with half a brain will eat them!

That's my guess!

Cheers - John