anti ant thread

[RJSquirrel]

there are indeed orchids whose old hollow bulbs are colonized by ants everywhere in the jungles. orchids evolved survival strategies that involved ants with a mutual benefit for both. Growing and flowering orchids often have small drops of sugary dew around the buds that aren't related to pollination at all.The purpose is attract ants (and wasps) to an easy food source. While the orchid benefits by getting bodyguards to their more exposed areas that are targets to predators. While neither needs the other to survive in the wild they have established this relationship thru time.

[howze01]

I discovered ants in my Zygonasia yesterday. Went to dunk it and hundreds of ants came running out of the media. I did my best to wash off as many as I could but I know I missed some. Normally I wouldn't mind them but where I am now, the plants are in my bedroom and I don't really relish the idea of sharing my bed with them...

I put out some ant traps. Will see how that goes. Will try a couple ideas posted here too. A very timely post for me!

[Optimist]

I'm only dreading when all the orchids have to come back in this winter. A major spider made a home in one of my phals. I think it was a brown recluse. We have those here.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I'm only dreading when all the orchids have to come back in this winter. A major spider made a home in one of my phals. I think it was a brown recluse. We have those here.

Probably not a brown recluse...most likely a grass spider. There are I don't know how many species of "grass spiders" in the US...from E to W and N to S. I have at least 2 species that I'm aware of in my area and they both LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my orchids pots. The open mediums and the holey pots are the perfect location for their ambush webs. They freak me out and I have to be vigilant all summer...they can take over a pot in one night. EWWWW!

Anyway...Recluse spiders got their name for a reason...they make their "homes" in dark and secluded areas. It would be a rare find to discover one in and orchid pot as that would be too bright and far wetter than they like. Dry and dark are the preferred.

[bil]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

there are indeed orchids whose old hollow bulbs are colonized by ants everywhere in the jungles. orchids evolved survival strategies that involved ants with a mutual benefit for both. Growing and flowering orchids often have small drops of sugary dew around the buds that aren't related to pollination at all.The purpose is attract ants (and wasps) to an easy food source. While the orchid benefits by getting bodyguards to their more exposed areas that are targets to predators. While neither needs the other to survive in the wild they have established this relationship thru time.

Excellent. That explains the drops of sticky sap on some of my cats. The ants love them.