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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Ants as biological control?

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  • From: list@ginda.us
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Ants as biological control?
  • Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 23:28:40 -0400


On May 14, 2005, at 8:41 PM, Rodney Eveland wrote:

While searching on bugs I came across articles that stated ants have
been and are today being used as biological controls of other insects.
Most of the articles mentioned their use in Citrus, Sweet Potato,
coconut and one other plant which I can't remember. One of my
relatives told me he know longer destroys red ant hills as they are
quite predatory - catching and eating mosquitoes that are hiding on
the bottom side of leaves to escape the heat of the day.

Anyone have any information about the "good side" of some ants? Can
some species be moved into an area where bad ants are using aphids as
"dairy cows"?


After initially suspecting ants were damaging my apple blossoms, I now think they were helping me. I think they were in the buds because they were eating the winter moth larva, which did a great deal of damage.

The ants on the currants are bad, though. They are only there to farm aphids.

I basically take a "live and let live" attitude, and rarely kill insects unless they are actively eating a plant or biting me.

Ginda





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