| Imagine! One quadrillion tiny (and some not | | | | actually little more than a very small |
| so tiny!) | | | | processing unit that converts plant juices |
| insects--foraging...rampaging...looking for | | | | (sap) into a sweet nectar-like solution that |
| virtually anything that might be eaten or, in | | | | it stores in its bulging little body. Ants |
| some cases, conquered. Striding purposely | | | | have learned that by stroking an aphid's |
| along in endless lines, ants wend their way | | | | abdomen, they are rewarded with a droplet of |
| across our yards, up the walls, through | | | | "honey-dew" from tiny tube-like projections |
| almost invisible cracks and | | | | on its posterior.Remarkably, with the arrival |
| crevices...pouring out of what seems an | | | | of the frosts of fall, ants will actually |
| impossible nowhere...into our kitchens and | | | | carry some of their aphid-partners into their |
| pantries.First come just a few. Scouts who | | | | subterranean homes where they are kept alive |
| return to the nest with good news of dirty | | | | over winter, later to be returned to the |
| dishes, crumbs behind the stove, garbage cans | | | | upper parts of plants the following spring.A |
| filled to overflowing and cat munchies | | | | number of larger insects, birds, small snakes |
| spilled down a floor register. A force | | | | and mammals prey upon ants so they only |
| rivaling the invading hordes of Genghis Kahn | | | | rarely become a serious problem in the |
| immediately mobilizes and marches--bent on | | | | outdoors. Occasionally, however, a nest turns |
| stocking their collective larder against the | | | | up in the wrong place and must be dealt with. |
| promise of another long winter.Ants! It seems | | | | Resist the natural urge to become hysterical. |
| that all quadrillion of them on Earth at any | | | | Ants can very easily be encouraged to move to |
| one time routinely turn up in our gardens and | | | | a different spot. Remember that they're where |
| kitchens...overnight...without warning. And | | | | they are because conditions are favorable and |
| are they tough! In some cases, they can even | | | | food plentiful. If you make their living |
| be beneficial. Always a fascinating social | | | | conditions unpleasant, more often than not |
| structure. Second only to cockroaches in | | | | they'll pack up their eggs and pupae and |
| tenacity, and rivaling the wily coyote in | | | | march off to find a new home.Water--lots of |
| cunning, ants have adapted quite nicely to | | | | it--is the answer. Just follow the trail of |
| the human lifestyle and are the most social | | | | workers to the nest opening and then pour in |
| insect on our planet.Yet, while they may be a | | | | plenty of water to which a little dishwashing |
| nuisance in the home, even these pestiferous | | | | liquid has been added. Should that fail, a |
| rascals can often be beneficial in the | | | | brew of blenderized tansy (a perennial herb |
| garden. Most species--and there are probably | | | | with a pungent odor) in water should do the |
| 14,000 in all--are omnivorous...they eat | | | | trick. They can't stand the smell of the |
| virtually anything organic. That includes | | | | stuff! Be watchful though. They may move in |
| practically any other insect (except | | | | the wrong direction and end up in Junior's |
| aphids--more about their relationship with | | | | sand box, or worse: the basement. I prefer to |
| aphids later) including cutworms, grubs, | | | | avoid the use of toxic chemistry in the |
| fleas, bedbugs, and flies. They'll even | | | | control or management of ants.Finally, ants |
| attack and drag away moths, mosquitoes and | | | | can become most interesting pets, living |
| black flies. Additionally, they recycle | | | | upwards of six years for workers and as long |
| decaying animal and vegetable material, and | | | | as 12 years for the queen. Many a youngster |
| certain types aerate the soil with their deep | | | | has spent long and profitable hours observing |
| networks of tunnels.Stories abound relating | | | | the social behavior of these fascinating |
| the horrors of people being attacked and all | | | | little creatures. Perhaps the simplest and |
| but devoured by swarms of marauding ants. | | | | least expensive formicarium is a jar of soil |
| True, a few species can inflict a nasty and | | | | placed in a shallow tray of water or covered |
| painful sting (injecting a type of | | | | with fine gauze. Start with a queen (they're |
| formaldehyde). Quite a few others will | | | | the larger ones with wings) and she'll |
| respond to threat upon their lives or | | | | produce her own ladies-in-waiting and |
| security by clamping down on the nearest | | | | workers. Feed with small scraps of meat, |
| patch of flesh with powerful, needle-sharp | | | | fruit or sugar and supply moisture by wetting |
| jaws. But, while a serious threat outdoors, | | | | a small sponge with water. Just be careful |
| that type rarely finds its way into the home | | | | not to overdo the food and water...the little |
| and, if left alone in the garden, would | | | | fellows can only eat and drink so much.It all |
| quickly flee from an occasional encounter | | | | sounds suspiciously Hitchcockian doesn't |
| with a 160+ pound gardener wielding a hoe or | | | | it!Fred Davis is a Master Gardener, Master |
| trowel.Ants do, however, have a more | | | | Composter, lecturer, and long-time |
| "devilish" side. They will protect and | | | | nurseryman. |
| nurture certain types of aphids. An aphid is | | | | |