" 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" http://www.darwinawards.com/ Mark Mazer Hertford, NC On Thu, Apr 5, 2018 at 1:35 PM, 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 > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. > http://www.avg.com/ > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net http://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/…