Lifted off the top of my compost and it is full of ants and I mean full ! They have made themselves a lovely kingdom , with all sorts of tunnels and eggs in various stages of growth. In fact the outriders swarmed out when I disturbed them and I manage to obtain a few bites on my hand. Little blighters.
Is this a good thing to have in your compost, should I get rid of them or just let nature take its course?
I found thousands of ants and eggs in a few of my bins, I dusted with ant power, don't know if I should have done it but it's too late now. ::)
Have the same situation with ants in one of my compost bins on the allotment. They are doing a great job breaking down the green matter. so good there is little left for me to use. ;)
They will get a nasty surprise in the winter when they will be evicted, scattered on the plot and dug in! ;)
Our girls like to eat ants as they run out of the compost bins. They just stand there pecking at at them. Eggs are a real treat for them
can't do no harm in the heap they only cause trouble i find in pots around the roots causing them to dry out >:(
I watered my compost heap and they moved out! I disturbed a red ant nest when weeding my asparagus bed. Now those ones I don't like!
Actually there seems to be a huge increase in the ant population this year.
I think they help break down the compost but can be a nuisance elsewhere! I try to tolerate them it's only when they are in plant pots or near the house that I do anything about them. I did not know about differnt types- I take it some are worse than others?
i think the red ones bite more but i think if not in house leave alone unless causing problem ;)
The red ones bite, I know cause they crawled up my trousers and bit my legs, bum and hand. Got home, just before the thunder storm, and had a shower, put TCP on the bites, washed all my clothes. I was on my knees on a plastic bag cutting the long grass with shears. Won't do that again in a hurry. Don't mind if they stay in the compost heap, but they are everywhere this year, and yes I will get some more ant powder.
They don't like wet, so a little human-produced fertiliser will encourage them to move on, and hasten decay in the heap as well.
To be honest it's absolutely fascinating watching the ants working and admiring the home they have built. I guess they won't be around for too much longer anyway. As for these black ants biting, I think the "soldier"ants who swarmed out to protect the nest have got a hell of a bite. I had to put gloves on to cover the compost back up again as they were everywhere and could certainly move fast !
Put empty upturned flowerpot on surface of soil wherever you have a nuisance colony of ants .....in a couple of weeks time they will all move in......slide spade underneath pot and take them to another location.
My " Ant Hotel " system works with both plastic or terracotta pots .
Not sure how on earth you deal with an ant " kingdom " though ! ::)
Quote from: woodypecks on August 01, 2012, 14:37:21
Put empty upturned flowerpot on surface of soil wherever you have a nuisance colony of ants .....in a couple of weeks time they will all move in......slide spade underneath pot and take them to another location.
My " Ant Hotel " system works with both plastic or terracotta pots .
Not sure how on earth you deal with an ant " kingdom " though ! ::)
Send in my girls!
Distance might be a problem though otherwise be my guest !!!
Quote from: fitzsie on August 01, 2012, 20:33:51
Distance might be a problem though otherwise be my guest !!!
Hehe I've cycled round your way