Apparently they get some kind of indirect food source from aphids so they will do this to protect them. Pretty cool in a way, but I'm 100% on team ladybird here so will probably put a bait station down.
I just remove the aphids (squash then with fingers or rinse when watering), I’d worry the insecticide would kill other things I don’t want.
AcanthaMD
Bait traps work well I’ve found, I don’t think they attract ladybirds
FatDad66
It’s a protection racket. The aphids produce nectar for the ants. The ants beat up the ladybirds.
Relevant-Ad7738
Ants “milk” aphids for a sweet sap they produce as excreta as they feed on a plant.
Illustrious-Cell-428
If you smear Vaseline around the base of the stem it will stop ants climbing up
Giles81
It’s wildlife, not a football match. You don’t need to back a side, and you don’t need to be using insecticides for no good reason.
Blu-Void
They will, ladybirds eat aphids, and ants farm aphids, they actively look after them and even take them into their home to hibinate over winter, aphids drink the plants and excrete a sweet liquid that the ants live off. So ants protect and farm/feed off the aphids.
Gisschace
Put down some honey and distract the ants
Accomplished-Hall425
If you have played grounded before u know how this plays out. The ladybug will fuck them up
9 Comments
I just remove the aphids (squash then with fingers or rinse when watering), I’d worry the insecticide would kill other things I don’t want.
Bait traps work well I’ve found, I don’t think they attract ladybirds
It’s a protection racket. The aphids produce nectar for the ants. The ants beat up the ladybirds.
Ants “milk” aphids for a sweet sap they produce as excreta as they feed on a plant.
If you smear Vaseline around the base of the stem it will stop ants climbing up
It’s wildlife, not a football match. You don’t need to back a side, and you don’t need to be using insecticides for no good reason.
They will, ladybirds eat aphids, and ants farm aphids, they actively look after them and even take them into their home to hibinate over winter, aphids drink the plants and excrete a sweet liquid that the ants live off. So ants protect and farm/feed off the aphids.
Put down some honey and distract the ants
If you have played grounded before u know how this plays out. The ladybug will fuck them up