Good bug vs. Bad Bugs specifically ANTS

[kindrag23]

Got a paph (Emerald x Superbiens) in today, pulled it out and got my hand covered in ants and EGGS!!! UGHHH,
1st severely allergic to ants so slight HOLY SH*T moment hit me.
2nd. Then slightly less freaked when noticed it seemed like small sugar or wood ants. Whew I have enough fire ants in my yard to fight thank you very much.

3rd. I sprayed the plant down lightly with bayer neem oil natria (?) brand. let sit for 5 min and then sprayed all off with my water hose sprayer.

Okay now the biggest point of my question, if I did not succeed at getting them all and some survived would they be okay on my paph? Or would I need to continue to work on keeping the little suckers out of my plants?

Sorry no pictures they have been sprayed away.

[Bill U.]

If you are keeping it in the house, I would recommend trying to just get as much of them out as possible. Somewhere here on OB there was a thread about someone trying to get ants out of their orchids and they would water by immersion for a couple of weeks to literally drown out the ants in addition to spraying with neem oil.

Good luck!

[kindrag23]

Thanks it got soaked and for 45 min has several new root growths, okay with paphs is it normal to have 2 super long large roots. and then several other small ones? In know off topic but this makes the second paph I have gotten from 2 different sellers that are like this...

---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 PM ----------

O and yes they are inside, and I used a totally different container (smaller), and fresh medium. All area where any type of box was opened got sprayed and wiped down with bleach...little buggers I don't want an infestation in my house!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Not a lot of people know this, but some orchids attract ants on purpose.

[kindrag23]

@KOOG I knew that some plants had a symbiotic relationship like that I was just not aware the orchids did that is this one of those types?

[Leafmite]

When I suspect ants in a pot, I soak the entire plant in water overnight...that gets them. Terro ant traps work well, too. Ants farm aphids and scale so you don't want to let them reside in your pots.
I am very glad we don't have fire ants (yet).

[kindrag23]

I think they were actually wood/sugar ants, I soaked the plant with physan and then sprayed post drying sprayed down again with my water sprinkler on high. I threw the pot and potting media FAR AWAY and sprayed them down as well to prevent them from coming into my house..ugh....I thought that it was possibly aphids they were carrying but then I also think they were carrying eggs around since they had their nests messed with in transit to getting to me.

---------- Post added at 07:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:54 PM ----------

Plus if it were actually fire ants they would be quarantined outside since I am allergic to the stupid things. Don't want or need a trip to the doctor for a steroid shot and meds again.....

[Silje]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

@KOOG I knew that some plants had a symbiotic relationship like that I was just not aware the orchids did that is this one of those types?

I actually do not worry too much about ants as long as they stay in the greenhouse, but if I see that there is an ant nest forming in a pot I normally try to soak the pot and drown them.

If they are very persistent I have a powder called Everdeath (nice name?) that does...er...wonders.

Regarding ants and orchids, some of the orchids that used to be called schomburgkias but have been re-classified into their own genus called myrmecophila have hollow pbulbs for ant colonies. The rent is apparently paid out in security guard services. The ants protect the plant from invasion from bad guys and gets housing and accommodation in return. Pretty cool. If any ants decide to settle in my thompsoniana, I'm definitely letting them stay on.

I suspect the same is the case with Caularthrons...? It looks like they also have hollow canes when they grow older.

[kindrag23]

Well I would leave them alone except they all have to come in for the winter so no bugs inside is the rule. I love the name as well hahaha!

[GardenTheater]

To get some of the stragglers that don't get drowned, I put out Terror ant baits. They bring the bait to their nest and it eventually kills off the colony. I have one in the window.