Planting those herbs nearby may have some effect, but, I found the dried herbs worked better. Michael ----- Original Message ----- From: "Henry Karczynski" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 28, 2003 8:47 PM Subject: Re: ants in the vanilla
> Roger, > > I have planted pennyroyal as a perimeter in several lots. Now that you > mention it I will see if there is a relationship with the pennyroyal > planted and ant damage. Pennyroyal is the only plant you mention that > I know that does well in our region. > > Thanks > > Hank > > Roger Pye wrote: > > > Henry Karczynski wrote: > > > >> > >> Dear list serve, > >> > >> I am having problems with ants eating the pre-florescence vanilla > >> buds on my farm in Costa Rica. This problem reduces the amount of > >> flowers that can be hand pollinated. I have identified at least six > >> different ant types (there are more) which colonize the plants > >> through pruning cuts on the host trees. Interestingly this > >> phenomenon is occuring only in certain lots of the farms. The ants > >> that are urinating or eating the tender buds are in all the lots but > >> only cause extensive damage to the buds in three of the lots, which > >> are geographically separated and also have natural barriers. > >> I have been applying foliar water, diamataceous earth with capsicum > >> (hot pepper) and garlic but with minimum results. My next response > >> will be to "bug juice" dead ants in the lots that are problematic. I > >> am opposed to "pepper ants" as they are such an integral part of the > >> rainforest ecology. Has anyone had any luck controlling ants on the > >> list? > >> > >> Hank > >> Costa Rica > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Catnip, mint, chrysanthemum, onion family especially garlic cloves, > > pennyroyal, tansy, rue as growing or dried plants repel ants so > > perhaps you could plant some as companion plants > > > > roger > > > > >
