Black ants on an apple tree: how to deal with their invasion
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Of course, there are many benefits from black ants, but they should not become the owners of the garden. Because of black ants, aphids appear on vegetable and fruit and berry crops, so you should not let them in and let them multiply in your area.
Below we will analyze such a problem as ants on an apple tree: how to get rid of them?
Ants on an apple tree: harm or benefit?
Ants are the orderlies of the forest, they play an important role and provide many benefits. But their appearance on garden plots often becomes a big problem, regardless of which site they have chosen.
Ants on an apple tree can lead to the death of young, not matured trees, and their vigorous activity can completely deprive the crop.
Ants on an apple tree: the benefits of red and harm from black ants:
If even the slightest presence of these insects is detected, you must act immediately. In this case, the age of the plant does not matter. The vigorous activity of ants can destroy the crop, and the entire apple tree after some time.
Ants are the forerunners of aphids, rapidly colonizing affected trees. The insects themselves do not harm the apple tree trunk and leaves, but destroy young buds and apples. They suck the juices from the apple tree and fruits, and eat the remains of the aphids. Therefore, their task is to lure a large number of aphids, stock up on their larvae for the winter period and pull them out onto the plant again so that the aphid can multiply.
As soon as a large-scale colonization of ants on a tree was noticed, an aphid invasion can be expected in a couple or three weeks, and this will already destroy the entire crop.
It's important to know that red ants are good for you. They fight all pests, including black ants, thus bringing great benefits.
How to protect an apple tree from ants and aphids in the spring
The appearance of ants on the leaves of an apple tree occurs during the period when the buds begin to swell or during the period of fruit ripening.
Spring processing, aimed at the destruction of harmful insects, takes place in two stages:
- first - before the kidneys begin to swell,
- the second - at the moment of bud formation.
To protect the apple tree from ants, at the beginning of the spring season, it is necessary to spray the plants from the ill-fated ants and aphids, as well as to treat them against putrefactive diseases, including scab and black cancer.
For this, 4% copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid is used. At the time the buds are laid, treatment is carried out against insects that eat leaves, as well as fungal diseases. A 2% Bordeaux liquid is suitable here. In addition, it will be necessary to apply insecticidal and fungicidal preparations. Among gardeners, drugs are used: Karbofos, Topaz, Chlorofos, Skor.
How to get rid of ants on an apple tree?
How to cope with ants and aphids on an apple tree, if they have already settled on it. The use of various scarers is relevant for use where insects do not yet exist and must be protected from spreading from other trees. It is necessary to use traps designed directly for ants in order to avoid the death of beneficial insects and to protect animals.They are installed where harmful insects accumulate and on their paths.
How to fight ants on apple tree leaves using Ant Trails
Traps are devices that not only feed and poison one insect, but also make it a carrier that can poison other pests in the nest. As for insecticides, they work well on surfaces.
How to protect an apple tree from ants and aphids on the root system
If ants are bred in the roots of the apple tree, at the beginning of the autumn season, backfilling is carried out using preparations sold in granules. You can buy them at any specialty store or nursery. Before use, it is important to carefully read the instructions and carry out the procedure following the instructions in it. The use of these funds is possible only at this point in time. Since they interfere with the metabolic work of the apple tree, they should not be used until all apples are harvested.
Regardless of the presence of ants in the hollow of the apple tree, it must be sealed. Before that, rotten wood and pests that are there are removed from it. This procedure should be done using gloves, a scoop, garden knives and other necessary tools.
Dust and insects are poured into any container and filled with hot boiling water.
It is necessary to treat the hollow of an apple tree from ants using diazinon-based insecticidal preparations.
How to treat an apple tree from ants and aphids inside a tree
The appearance of ants inside the tree indicates the presence of damage on the apple tree, which means that rotting wood is in that place, or it will be so after a short period of time. If there are insects inside, you need to drill or cut a passage and place there scarer.
Since we need to drive insects to the surface, insecticides will not work here, since they will interfere with the achievement of the goal. If you use them, the ants will die inside the tree, begin to decompose and spoil the wood from the inside.
After the ant traps are installed on the apple trees, it is necessary to remove the rotten wood from the damaged surfaces. Further, these areas are treated with antiseptics, the cavities are dried and all damage is repaired using corks made of wood, foam for installation work or other means. It all depends on how big the hole is.
Preventive measures to prevent ants from appearing on the apple tree
A great way to prevent ants from appearing on the apple tree is to make a skirt with a pointed edge with foil and place it on the trunk. When dressing it, it is important not to allow gaps. Clay and clay will help ensure a snug fit. The main thing before applying is to clean the bark and grease the trunk well, then you can attach the foil.
Sticky trapping belts are considered to be a great rescue of trees from all types of insects that can harm the plant. Among gardeners, Aeroxon are considered very high quality ant traps on apple trees for their stickiness despite the long drying time. They are designed to kill ant pests that crawl under the apple tree. The belt is fixed at a distance of 80 centimeters from the ground surface and periodically changed to a new one. For the first time, he puts on the trunk in late winter and early spring.
How to save a young apple tree from black ants and aphids
Ants inflict great damage only on planted trees. Because of the ants on the apple trees, seedlings are lagging behind in development, because the damage is done to the root system. If these pests have settled on a tree, then throughout the summer season it is necessary to water it regularly and abundantly.
At the onset of autumn, it is necessary to sprinkle the soil with any preparations based on diazinon in the dosages indicated in the instructions.
To cope with aphids, it is necessary in the first spring month, before the buds begin to swell, spray the plants with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate.
If Nitrofen or Oleocobrite is used for treatment, then the treatment should end before the buds begin to bloom. The solution is made at the rate of 200 grams per 1 bucket of water. These products destroy the eggs of aphids.
When leaves appear, insecticidal preparations that do not cause burns can be applied. They are applied to the inside of the sheet. A drug Spark can be used every 21 days.
Signs of aphids
When ants on the apple tree and leaves curl, we can say that the apple tree was attacked by aphids. You can see a sticky liquid on the leaves and ants that have accumulated on them. You can see them by opening a leaf that is starting to fade.
The drugs that we talked about above, as well as the means used by the people for a long time, will help to cope with them. For example, you can prepare ash solutions, make an infusion on yarrow, or use tobacco.
How to deal with aphids on apple tree leaves
To cope with aphids, when the fruit is being formed, the solution with which the plant is sprayed will help. For it, you need to prepare baking soda, linseed oil and water. It is made at the rate of 5 g x 30 g x 1 liter. This method stops the reproduction of pests without affecting the fruit.
Infusions on tobacco and laundry soap are especially popular among gardeners. To do this, take 20 grams of makhorka, 40 grams of soap, mix everything in 20 liters of water and leave for several days. Next, the solution is filtered and diluted 1 to 2.
To prepare an infusion on yarrow, you need to mix 800 grams of grass with 10 liters of boiling water, leave for several days. Heat to 60 degrees, and add 40 grams of grated laundry soap. The grass can be replaced with ash. In this case, you need to mix 3 glasses with warm water and let it brew for two days. After the solution is ready for use.
Wood ash is considered the best option to preserve the plant during flowering. It is enough to dilute 3 tbsp in 7 liters of water. spoons and pour over the apple tree. This method will not have any effect on the flowers, but will destroy the aphids.
The anthill is covered with dry soda, it perfectly helps to cope with pests. During the summer, spraying with a soda solution is carried out three times.
Anti-aphid preparations
Aphid traps on apple trees, baits and gels are designed to kill ants after a while. The poisonous components contained in them are carried by insects to their den and fed to everyone living there, thus the entire anthill dies.
In addition to traps, chemicals based on aphids should be used to kill aphids. It can be both gels and aerosols. These types of drugs help to get rid of pests, but they have noticeable disadvantages. For example, an aerosol quickly disappears, and gels can harm animals and insects needed by the plant.
Effective in the opinion of gardeners means for combating aphids
Traps are rounded, flat fixtures with small openings.
Protecting apple trees from ants also implies such effective brands as Raptor, Combat. They are considered highly effective pest control products.
In addition to them, gardeners appreciate their effectiveness and therefore use Muratsid and Ant, these preparations contain intestinal poison.
High efficiency was shown by the poisonous drugs made in Germany Frunol Delica GMBH, they are made using innovative technologies. These are gels and granular baits. Such funds help fight black ants both on the site and inside the house in order to prevent another invasion of apple trees.
Ants on an apple tree: how to deal with folk remedies?
The anthill should be away from the garden, but if it appears, it must be moved.
The place where the anthill was, it is necessary to pour boiling water several times in order to destroy the queen, which may be deep underground.
If the anthill is located close to the trunk of the apple tree, then urine, which is poured over their home and paths, can help.
Dusting with salt, hot ash, lime or tobacco dust will help to destroy anthills. Before filling them, you need to loosen the nest.
Also popular among the people is a solution where molasses or sugar is used. They are mixed with water in a ratio of 1 glass to 1 bucket and the anthill is poured. Such a remedy promotes the multiplication of yeast in the soil, which is why the insects leave.
DIY lures to protect apple trees from aphids and ants
In order to make the bait yourself, you will need sugar, two tablespoons of hot water, borax - 1/3 teaspoon and honey - 1 teaspoon. Honey is added after the water has cooled. You can also mix minced meat with borax in proportions of 2 tbsp. spoons for 1/2 tsp. You need to change such baits every week.
Ants on an apple tree: ways to scare away
If ants have settled in the apple tree, to scare them away, you can use the aroma of smoked herring, garlic, tomato tops, parsley, bitter wormwood, mint, ground cinnamon. They are laid out wherever insects have been spotted. The ants do not tolerate their smell and rush to leave.
Vegetable oils as a remedy for ants on apple trees
Vegetable oil collected from the pan after cooking is a great way to get rid of ants completely. To do this, you just need to fill them with their burrows. You can apply vinegar, shampoo, and vegetable oil by mixing 2 cups of each product with a bucket of water. Before watering, you need to make a hole into which the mixture is poured. After that, the place must be covered with foil.
How to spray columnar apple trees from aphids and ants
The best option for treating wood is to mix the repeller with the exterminator. For example, mix kerosene and phenol. It is necessary to mix 400 grams of laundry soap, 10 tbsp of kerosene in a bucket of water. spoons, phenol 2 tbsp. spoons, pour the resulting mixture on the trunk of the tree and, having dug out the anthill, fill it with the same solution.
You can also make ash and clay mixtures and coat the trunk with them.
Making remedies for black ants at home
How to use traps to keep ants out of an apple tree
Making traps with your own hands is not at all difficult and will help save money on purchases in stores. To do this, we need to take an ordinary sponge with which we wash the dishes, soak it with honey diluted in water, and spread it along the ant paths. When the ants fill the sponge, it must be dipped in boiling water.
Ants are passionate about honey and always get in where the scent comes from. Therefore, you can install a jar with a solution of honey, and when the insects get there, they will drown. Using this option, you do not need to constantly monitor the situation, unlike the sponge option. However, the advantage of a sponge is that it can be placed on any branch of an apple tree.
Adhesives and gels for removing ants from the apple tree
Trap belts are a great way to obstruct ants, but regular insect adhesives can work just fine.
In order to do everything right, you must first wrap the trunk at the base with twine and apply glue. Pay attention that there are no gaps when winding. If the glue is applied to the bark, then after 21 days you need to scrape it off so that the trunk does not rot.
The synthetic gel is applied all over the tree trunk, not just where insects are congregated.
Popular for their good action are Clean House, Anteater.
Ants attack an apple tree: what to do? The use of grease and tar
Solid oil and tar is applied to the trunk at the base in the spring. When they dry, the layer should be renewed.
How else to spray apple trees from ants and aphids?
At the moment, there are powdered preparations that can be used to pollinate apple trees during fruiting. For example, if ants attacked an apple tree, Phenaxin would be an excellent remedy. It can be used up to 10 days before eating the fruit. The main thing is to rinse them well.
A solution of the drug is used to spray a tree trunk. This method prevents ants from entering the apple tree.
How to treat an apple tree from aphids and ants?
- The trunk circle can be treated with granular preparations, which are applied to the ground only after harvesting.
- A concentrated lime solution helps well in the fight against insects. It must be applied to and around the apple tree trunk.
Please note that when digging up the soil, slaked lime must be added there.
Outcome
You can fight black ants using the gifts of nature. You can bring red ants from the forest, which will quickly destroy the pests. You can plant herbs next to the apple tree that repel insects with their aroma.
Ladybugs can easily cope with aphids, gurgling, lacewings. You can attract these pest controllers with calendula, coriander, dill and marigolds.
After reading the article, you now know exactly how to save an apple tree from aphids and ants, but it should be remembered that the best results are obtained with an integrated approach to solving the problem.