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Greenfield Nh

what will kill ants that have been eating the roots, or destroying them at the base of my plant,(1209kuhn). bait traps are not working. roots are not spreading at all. need help fast. the ants are very small,redish in color. thanks for any input

5/30/2009 8:20:31 AM

Connecticut, USA

I don't know for sure but I would think Merit would do it. It is systemic, so your plant would take up the Merit and then any bugs that feed on the roots or any other part of the plant would die.

5/30/2009 8:25:20 AM

Connecticut, USA

Google this: merit for controlling ants

5/30/2009 8:26:40 AM

Upstate S.C.

Mr. Tiller, Merit will kill ants and so will over the counter Triazide(mispelled), Both will work great.

5/30/2009 10:45:07 AM

[email protected]

I've never heard of ants damaging AG's. Most ant's in New Hampshire simply aren't vegetarians. Carpenter ants can only eat wood cellulose.

They might simply be waking up from winter to find that you're growing where their home used to be. That or they picked your patch for a new home. Momma ant would often choose freshly broken ground if she arrived in a weakened state - easier digging.

Crush one of the ants. Smell it. What does it smell like?

5/30/2009 9:53:08 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

QUOTE: Crush one of the ants. Smell it. What does it smell like?

What are you some kind of weirdo?? LOL

5/31/2009 9:16:43 AM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

Had some ants in my greenhouses last night, dusted with diamatacious earth and today they are all gone and so are the other soft body pests that were inside.

Kirk

5/31/2009 4:33:01 PM

Westford, MA

MIX 50/50 Sugar and 20 Mule Team Borax powder soap, and sprinkle around the area where the ants are active.
Need to reapply after moisture event.
They take the mix back to the nest and something in the Borax kills the nest.
Not a contact killer, but Works well for me.
kevin

6/1/2009 11:14:27 AM

[email protected]

Citronella ants smell like citronella. Not weird. Just very experienced with misdiagnosed pest problems such as this. There shouldn't be any "small, reddish" ant swarms in NH this time of year. "Yellowish ants that smell of citronella" would make sense.

I've been a certified 3A commercial pesticide supervisor since 1983 & don't recommend pesticides for anything but a KNOWN situation.

6/1/2009 1:18:14 PM