ANTS... how do i get rid of them

[carshaw]

Hi,
We are now enjoying the successful running of our system as a continuous flow system however all of the growbeds are full of ants, which eat the strawberries? Does anyone know how to get rid of them?
thanks
Carla

[bunya boy]

Carla:
If you can't lift the GB support legs to put 4 litre ice cream containers full of water or light oil as a moat, then wrap the legs with very furry, fluffy material (like a cheap poly or nylon Boa!). They don't like having to climb through it. It is used in the USA at the tops of peoples boots etc in Fire Ant infested areas.
Use a Borax and Honey bait under the GBs to draw them away from the sweet treats you provide.
Get rid of any Aphids the ants may be farming on your Stawbs, it may not be the ants destroying your fruit, it may be the farmed Aphids that the ants get very sweet nectar from?

Let's know how you go.

Cheers IanK

[saila]

How do you get rid of the aphids?
thanks
Kathy

[Jill Carrier]

Hi Kathy, i have a huge aphid problem in our grow tube. I have brought some lacewings which seem to be reducing the number of aphids. Today I released a 2nd batch but I have a horrible feeling that they are being eaten by ants. time will tell as it is a bit difficult to find them when they are tiny. Go to the bugsforbugs website. They are delivered by overnight express, and not too expensive. Was unsure of baiting ants with borax & honey, but that is what i shall be doing tomorrow. Jill

[bunya boy]

Hi Kathy,

Sorry not to get back to you sooner.
My wife, Margaret, gardener extrordinaire, says to use home made white oil: 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil, 1 Tablespoon of detergent and 1 litre of water. Shake the bejesus out of it until it turns White!
Spray it onto the effected plants.

The oil smoothers the aphids and glugs up their sucking bits, the detergent acts as a wetting agent to "emulsify" the oil and help it to coat the insects and plants and of course the water is just the carrying medium.

This won't hurt the fish or harm the system.
Or you could try a Pyrethrum spray, natural insecticide, breaks down very quickly, but could harm your fish if used too liberally.

I would go the White Oil route myself.
BTW, Xmas bbq looks like Sunday 20th at the moment. Will post for all when confirmed

Cheers IanK