Ants on currants: how to get rid of them using folk remedies, what to do, how to treat them

Content

1 Reasons for appearance
2 Consequences of an ant attack
3 Benefits of ants
4 How to save currants from ants in spring
5 How to protect currants from ants
6 Conclusion

Ants on currants are a potential danger. The insects are tenacious, very prolific, they feed on the berries and nectar of the plant. Particular harm is associated with the fact that ants help the spread of aphids. Therefore, we must begin to destroy them immediately. To do this, they use different methods, including traps, bait, traditional methods and chemicals.

Reasons for appearance

Different types of ants settle in currant bushes and other plants:

red forest ones;
brown meadows;
black garden ones.

Insects are widespread on all continents, including in the temperate climate zone

The following factors can provoke their appearance:

thickened currant plantings;
absence or lack of loosening and weeding;
late collection of fallen leaves and branches;
lack of preventive treatments against aphids, which contribute to the life of ants.

Consequences of an ant attack

The main danger of insects to currants is due to the fact that they feed on honeydew, a sweetish mucus secreted by aphids.In gratitude, the ants “graze” the pest, protecting it from other predators, such as ladybugs. These two species of insects live in close symbiosis (mutually beneficial cooperation).

As for aphids, their harm to currants is obvious:

feeds on cell sap and weakens plants;
injects toxic substances into tissues;
causes deformation and death of sheets;
shoots stop developing;
the tops are deformed;
reduces currant yield;
parasitism has a bad effect on the bush’s immunity to other diseases and pests.

However, it cannot be said that ants are completely harmless to currants. Even without symbiosis with aphids, they pose a certain danger to black, red or white currants:

They spread weed seeds.
They damage currant buds and petals while trying to get to the nectar.
They can spoil recently emerged seedlings.
If there is little food, sweet fruits, including currants, also begin to be damaged.
They release a large number of waste products, including formic acid, which increases the acidity of the soil, which over the years has a bad effect on the growth of bushes and the taste of fruits.

Important! Ants often appear on currants during flowering; at this moment, aphids also become active and prevent the plant from setting fruit normally.

Both pests need to be dealt with immediately, otherwise the yield will significantly decrease.

Benefits of ants

Ants not only harm currants, but also provide them and other plants with certain benefits:

loosen the surface layer of soil, improving access of oxygen and moisture to the roots;
destroy insect larvae, mites, caterpillars;
counteracts slugs.

Ants make passages in the soil, which can reach a depth of 1-1.5 m, this leads to improved fertility. The proportion of phosphorus compounds increases 10 times, potassium – 2-3 times. Pests are very persistent and prolific, they can multiply in large numbers, and then they will do much more harm than good.

Ants must be removed from under the currants, as they do more harm than good. This is especially important if the infestation is too large and aphids have appeared along with the main pest. On the other hand, it is not worth completely destroying the population, since it is an integral element of biological balance. It is enough to carry out 1-2 treatments with folk remedies or simply set traps on the site.

How to save currants from ants in spring

You can fight ants on currants in different ways. To do this, it is not necessary to immediately use chemicals. They are usually used in cases of very large infestations when other methods have not given the desired results. It is advisable to start with folk remedies, mechanical methods, including improvised means.

Strong odors

Ants that live on currants and other plants cannot tolerate strong odors. Therefore, in the fight against them you can use the following means:

food vinegar 9% (there is no need to use strong essence, it is only suitable for ruining an anthill);
ammonia;
laundry, tar soap (shavings or liquid);
fragrant plants: chamomile, parsley, anise, cumin, bay leaf, mint (they can be planted or dried raw materials can be used);
hot pepper – seasoning or crushed pods;
fresh garlic - chopped cloves, arrows;
essential oils: citrus, pine, lavender, cinnamon, clove.

Insects are afraid of the pungent odors of essential oils, citrus fruits and fragrant herbs

Aromatic products can be used in different ways. Cotton balls are soaked in oils and solutions and placed around the currants, along paths where pests are found and along the perimeter of other plantings. Solid mixtures, such as garlic or chili pepper, are also scattered there. As for fragrant plants, they can simply be planted around the perimeter of the site and provide minimal care.

Traditional methods

You can also get rid of ants on currants using folk remedies. The following recipes are most effective:

Soda is mixed with table sugar in equal quantities. Dilute with a small volume of water. Stir until completely dissolved. Water all the paths with this solution, and also go along the perimeter of the currant plantings.
To scare away ants, you can make a “ring” of linseed oil and soot at the base of the bush - coat the trunk to a height of 10 cm.
Spray the accumulation areas with a warm infusion of fragrant flowers and herbs - onions (husks and roots), tansy, celandine, mint, marigolds, tomato tops, mustard.
Another way to combat ants is to place pieces of fresh onions, orange peels, lemons or other citrus fruits along the paths.
To fight ants, you can take natural sheepskin or other wool, cut it into narrow strips, soak them in a carbolic acid solution and wrap the trunk of the bush.

Chemical

You can get rid of ants on a currant bush using chemicals. Insecticides are used for prevention, as well as for control in advanced cases, when the invasion is too strong and folk remedies do not help. The most popular drugs for these insects:

"Muracid";
"Zarid Spider";
"Claus"
"Muravin" and others.

Mechanical methods

Along with treating currants against ants, mechanical methods of prevention are also used. Insects can settle directly on the site or near it, building an anthill. Such places of accumulation must be destroyed, because the pests are prolific and will eventually multiply to catastrophic proportions.

Anthills in or near the garden should be removed

You can destroy the ants’ home in order to protect the currants in the following ways:

break apart with a shovel;
pour boiling water over;
pour in any liquid oil;
treat with acetic acid (essence 70%).

If you don’t want to destroy the anthill, you can simply move it by digging the earth around the circumference to a depth of 20-30 cm. Then put the “dwelling” in a bucket and take it further into a field or forest.

Traps, bait and barriers

To control pests on currants, other mechanical methods are used:

Traps against ants - strong poison and bait are poured into them. The method is effective due to the fact that the insect brings toxic substances into the anthill that cling to its legs. Traps can be purchased at an affordable price.
To fight ants on currants, you can take a small handful of yeast and pour it with a strong solution of sugar, honey and water (1:1:1). The thick mixture is placed in matchboxes, left open and stirred next to the currant bushes.
Also, to prevent the invasion of ants on currants, you can wrap a piece of foil around the trunk, making something like a skirt - the top edge fits tightly, and the bottom diverges at an angle. A small piece of foam rubber is placed under it to maintain its shape. Instead, you can use the cut off neck of a plastic bottle.
Another option for a barrier for ants on currants is to take thick paper and wrap it around the trunk in a spiral, wrapping it with masking tape on the inside.

If you protect the bush from ants and other pests, it will be healthy and produce a good harvest.

How to protect currants from ants

Invasions on currants can be very severe, and pest control is not always easy. Therefore, it is better to take care of effective preventive measures in advance:

Dig up the soil in spring and autumn, add wood ash in the amount of 150-200 g per 1 m².
Periodically carry out weeding and loosening.
Do not plant currant bushes too close to each other.
To prevent the appearance of ants on currants, you need to remove all debris from the area, avoiding its accumulation.
Plant at least a little calendula on the site - it attracts ladybugs, which destroy aphids, which will also have a bad effect on the ant colony.
You need to try to protect currants from ants in early spring. To do this, the bushes are treated with insecticides or folk remedies in late May - early April.
Periodically inspect currant plantings and prevent the spread of aphids and other pests.

Conclusion

Ants on currants are dangerous both in themselves and because they contribute to the invasion of aphids. Both pests are very prolific. They cause significant harm, their appearance leads to a decrease in yield. Therefore, you need to fight insects at the first signs of appearance. If anthills are found near the site, they must be destroyed or taken into the forest.