On Apr 5, 2018, at 11:35 AM, John Wickham <jwickham@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

My problems are associated with Argentine ants. They have shallow nests and pots are a prime nesting spot for them. And it seems the issues with aphids and mealy bugs is more pronounced in these situations. With regard to diatomaceous earth, I've heard that becomes ineffective when wet. Is that the case?

On Thursday, April 5, 2018 9:47 AM, Jo&Greg <sun-coast-pearl@telus.net> wrote:

I do not know about other ant species, but with regard to carpenter ants ...
they have the main colony, and the "nursery colonies" which are always a little
warmer, and more humid. This is why you can see them walking in a line from
somewhere outside, into your abode or porch, etc. They also have multiple
queens, so one will stay with each area. As for the gasoline treatment, pouring
orange oil down the colony will do the same thing, and cause an underground
smoldering fire if your ground is peaty.
Jo Canning

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs <pbs-bounces@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> On Behalf Of Rick Buell via
pbs
Sent: Thursday, April 5, 2018 5:36 AM
To: Pacific Bulb Society <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net>
Cc: Rick Buell <rredbbeard@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [pbs] ants in pots

They buy ant colonies **without** a queen....
--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 4/5/18, Jane Sargent <jane@deskhenge.com> wrote:

Subject: [pbs] ants in pots
To: pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2018, 8:03 AM

I agree that it sounds possible to unpot the plant and wash the ants away,
but I have never had ants in my pots and so have no direct experience. In my
Mexican garden, we have enormous underground colonies of leafcutter ants. This
is like National Geographic, with trails of ants carrying parasols they have
snicked out of my hibiscus and gardenias. A plantsman there suggested making a
deep hole into a colony, perhaps by hammering a broom handle into it, pouring
gasoline down the hole, tossing a match and running away as fast as possible.
He says it leaves a crater and a bad smell but crimps the style of the ants.
Don't try this in your bulb pots.

I wonder why ants prefer your bulb pots to the ground. Is it the drainage?
Most ants don't like to live in boggy ground.

Do all the colonies appear similar, or
do you have several species of ants?

People pay good money to buy ant farms
for their children.

Jane

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