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Georgia Gardener

Ants on my Japanese Maple

17 years ago

Hi All, it has been a while since I have posted here!

I have a large Japanese Maple tree in my(new) front yard that is just awesome. In the past couple of weeks I have seen a constant stream of ants up and down the tree. I have watched them and I can see they are going pretty high in the tree, but I don't see that they are carrying anything down.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Mandy

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Comments (5)

petalnet
17 years ago
I wonder if they're going up to get aphids---I have scads of aphids on the new growth at least one of my Japanese maples.
heavenscent
Original Author
17 years ago
I had read that when I googled "ants on Japanese maple". I guess then it could be a good thing, at least they are killing off aphids?

The problem is that the tree is about 20-30 feet tall, so I can't see up as far as they are going!
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buford
17 years ago
ants don't kill aphids, they tend them.

here is a link:

http://www.richsoil.com/antsandaphids/index.jsp
jeff_al
17 years ago
they might also be visiting the spring flowers for nectar(?)
or going to any sap that might be coming from the tree.
heavenscent
Original Author
17 years ago
Let's hope so since I can't get as high as they are going. Cross your fingers!

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