MountainGoat Posted February 16, 2015 So, I'm new to cacti. Planted out a several hundred seeds (various lophs and trichs) and they got smashed by ants. Every seedling within 24 hours... Didn't realise it was ants till it was too late. I live in the wet tropics, and at this time of year I don't need a humidity dome, so they were inside the house on a stand near a window. I've set the few seeds I didn't plant in round 1, this time in raised pots within a water bath to stop the little buggers... Anyway, my question is, are ants an threat to established cacti? If so, any suggestions for minimising the threat, or defeating an infestation without hurting the plant? Cheers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Señor Corrochio Posted February 16, 2015 Yeah ants are generally bad news (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmecophily). You can get rid of them with diatomaceous earth. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zelly Posted February 16, 2015 ^^^^^^ reading from the link you provided, seems that ants are generally good news Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MountainGoat Posted February 16, 2015 Hey Señor, yeah i was checking out diatomaceous earth. Any suggestions in how to use? Do you only use it when a problem arises? I noticed that it needs to be reapplied after rain/watering, so if its used continuously is there problem with nutrient build up? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Señor Corrochio Posted February 16, 2015 I was referring to the fact that many species farm parasites on the host plant. Of course it all depends on what the plant is and what species the ant is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Señor Corrochio Posted February 16, 2015 (edited) Hey Señor, yeah i was checking out diatomaceous earth. Any suggestions in how to use? Do you only use it when a problem arises? I noticed that it needs to be reapplied after rain/watering, so if its used continuously is there problem with nutrient build up? I have never actually used it myself, but I don't think there are any issues with it building up I remember reading people use large amounts of the stuff in mineral type soil mixes (I guess using too much of the fine powder might mess up the aeration of the soil though). Also you probably wouldn't need to apply too often anyways. If the plants are in small pots you can probably try flooding them as well. Edited February 16, 2015 by Señor Corrochio Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MountainGoat Posted February 16, 2015 (edited) Thanks Señor Edited February 16, 2015 by MountainGoat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bert&Ernie Posted February 17, 2015 I've had ants make an nest in a cereus and farm scale on it. Super annoying! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hostilis Posted February 17, 2015 Some cacti have an organ on the areoles called extrafloral nectaries. They excrete a sugary liquid to attract ants and then the ants fight off other insects for the plant. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djmattz0r Posted February 18, 2015 I think that's what the little black ants must be doing on my crested chollas, farming some sort of delicious parasite. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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