Pest control question

[sarcastic]

My tree (ficus) seems to be hosting a colony of little red/brown ants. I think that they must have come from a recently purchased tree (chamaecyparis pisifera) that I put on the same tray of rocks (it, too, has the ant problem - I just didn't notice it at first).

(Side note:I also don't see what it is that they are eating on the tree...there doesn't seem to be any damage, but I'm sure that they are getting something out of it - because they haven't wandered into other parts of my house.)

I've tried a once daily dose of a medium caliber insecticide/fungicide/pesticide 3-in-1 for a week now to no avail.

My next strategy is going to be the borax+sugary paste in a dish (NOT on the soil).

I was also advised that I should spray the tree with a diluted vinegar to throw the ants off of their habitual trail and get them wandering towards said sugary dish o' doom.

What other ideas are out there?

[bmor]

I wonder about the health of the tree and the condition of the soil if a soil transplant isn't in order. that might help a bit but then i'll differ to others as i've not had ants before.
good luck
b

[sarcastic]

The tree is crazy healthy. I've got a lot of new growth (and its been cold in my apt this winter), the leaves are a solid color and not wilty. Many of the leaves are huge (I will try to fix this in the spring with defoliation as advised elsewhere in this forum). There hasn't been any chewed leaves, or brown marks, or black spots.

Wouldn't a soil/repotting be out of order in winter, and with a plant I've only had just over a a month?

Another note: I looked all over the place for an ant-hill and didn't spot one. Could it be another pest that looks exactly like an ant?

[Wolfus]

I'm not sure where your at....
If your in the States I imagine you have heard of Grits..... I get rid of ants by sprinkling some grits around where I find them (In my case it is outside on my back porch) The ants eat the Grits and the corn expands inside htem killing them. Far safer than chemical means and cheap too.
Grits are the inside white section of dried corn. You may also know it as Homony.

David

[sarcastic]

I am in the US, and am familiar with Grits (jalapeno+cheese+grits=good eats), but have never bought them before.

Don't they come in dry packages like Cream-o-Wheat? Do you just lay out the dry flakes, or do you have to soak them in water first?

Another forum out there suggested submerging the whole tree (and pot) in water on the regular watering cycle (in my case, 4 times a week). Doesn't that seem reckless?

[centaura]

It depends on what kind of pot and the location that you keep your tree. Traditional bonsai lore says that submerging the pot in water is the best way to water. It stems from the history of the trees being one) very pot-bound, and two) outside where they loose moisture faster. I think you could dunk your tree, if you go a day or two more without watering it - so that its a bit dryer, and then becareful of the next time you water. This method might drown the queen, but the ants might be able to salvage another queen egg. And while you are not seeing any damage to the leaves, they might be damaging the roots.

I like the sweet doom option or the grits option, that is food that will be taken down into the colony and will get rid of them that way.

-Centaura

[Wolfus]

Grits are not actually flakes, but just fine granule's. Sprinkle them dry. It is when they come in contact with the ants digestive juices that makes them swell and causes the ants demise......
It doesn't take much, one granule per ant is all you need.

Hope ya good luck,
David