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Help! Giant ants!
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Posted by Rosebush z7 NC (My Page) on Mon, May 23, 05 at 19:34
| There are gi-normous reddish-brown ants (at least 5/8") on my black-eyed Susans and they are aggressive! What are they, and will diatomaceous earth work on them??? I don't use poisons. Thank you! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Help! Giant ants!
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| Are those ants harming the Black Eyed Susans or are they just there and their presence is disturbing to you. Only if they are actually damaging a plant, or are threatening your well being should any action be taken to control them. |
RE: Help! Giant ants!
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| There are holes chewed in the leaves and these beasts bite! |
RE: Help! Giant ants!
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| Sounds like a carpenter ant. Judgeing by size. Usually they are more of a solid black but I have seen more and more that are reddish upper body and dark brown lower. They nest in damp or rotted wood because it is easy to hollow out. If they are buy your foundation I would keep a watchful eye on them. Sometimes they are brought in by newly added hardwood mulch. If they seem to be congregating aroun your foundation or other wood structures (decks, sheds, etc.) Find a method that suits your taste to remove them. If they are carpenter ants they can cause major structual damage to a home over time. |
Followup -woisme
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| They are much BIGGER than carpenter ants - they're more like body-builder ants on steroids! Lol |
RE: Help! Giant ants!
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| I know just what you are talking about. I am possitive they are carpenter ants. Possibly an imported version? I dont know. But I have seen what you are describeing in rotted tree stumps and logs in the woods around my house and was amazed at their size. If there are no mounds or hills around where you see them but wood and especially a fine "sawdust" and soil like mixture. Then they are carpenters. I have never seen ones so huge until the last 4 years or so. They look like something from land of the lost. |
RE: Help! Giant ants!
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- Posted by jean001 z8aPortland, OR (My Page) on
Tue, May 24, 05 at 12:02
| Carpenter ant workers come in 5 sizes. At 5/8 inch, yours are likely carpenters. |
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