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Ant infestation

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Posted by kmekaru CA (My Page) on
Fri, Oct 16, 09 at 1:24

Hello, I have a vegetable garden in Sacramento. This was my first year growing in Sacramento and there are alot of bugs here that I did not experience when I was living in SF Bay Area. My main problem first came with caterpillars, which I could not control in natural ways. My plants started looking sickly with leaves eaten, so I purchased Ortho insecticide to control them. This worked, HOWEVER now I have a huge ant infestation problem.

I mainly grow cucumbers, melons, and beans and the ants love the cucumber and melon plants. They seem to be laying tiny eggs all over the leaves and they take a liking to the area where the fruit flowers are growing. I think they like the pollen. How do I control this without using toxic sprays? Any suggestions would help. I would like to use the Ortho as less as possible.

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RE: Ant infestation

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If you used Ortho Systemic insecticide I wouldn't eat anything that comes from the plants sprayed. I've never seen ants lay eggs above ground. They may be farming some other critters.

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RE: Ant infestation

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  • Posted by jean001 z8aPortland, OR (My Page) on
    Fri, Oct 16, 09 at 20:30

As was said, ants don't lay eggs aboveground.

Perhaps those "eggs" are instead aphids. If so, you can sqish them or hose them off.

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