ANTS!!! - pest or friend?
 

hi i have these ants (not the bad ones) in my backyard. observe it seems they are comfortably living inside the pots of my orchids. Question will these harm my plants? i dont see any white stuff (aphids - right?) around, i just wanna know if its safe or... if you're on my shoe will u remove them? thanks.

I would get rid of the ants since they could start encouraging either aphids or scale or mealy bugs.
From the book "Orchid Growing Illustrated" by Brian & Wilma Rittershausen
[I]Ants have always been connected with orchids, and in the wild are found in large nests living in the clumps of some orchids. On cultivated orchids they are attracted by the necture that extrudes from the base of the buds before the flowers are open. By cleaning up the sugary secretion, the ants prevent molds from growing, and there fore are not to be discouraged. If However, they nest or encourage aphids,scale and mealy bug by their strange way of milking them, they can be discouraged by using ant powder."
So since they are nesting you can see whats next.
Roland

Personally, I've never experienced any problems with ants, and my orchids are positively ant magnets during the summer when the plants all go outdoors. I've heard (and read about) the stories of ants shepherding aphids and other sap-producing insects around from plant to plant; however, I've never seen that happen on my orchids (even though I have observed it taking place on certain plants in my perennial garden). The only problem I've experienced is when the ants seem to be attempting to actually build nests (colonies) inside the pots. That I'm not too fond of because then I end up spending the winter finding their scouts exploring every corner of the house. I will say, however, that I do find the activities of the ants interesting to watch--especially when they find a flower spike loaded with buds. Then I think they have the potential to do more good than harm since they keep other insects from feeding on the buds (again, this is just my own experience, and I know that my love of ants, and insects in general, is definitely not universal). Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I found this locally for about P-85.

Malathion 57% E.C.

Four drops in about a quart of water twice a week until cleared up then as needed.

thanks guys!!!

I had them show up in the green house this summer they ate nectar from buds especially on the Vandas and did not farm anything .
I do not want them forming big colonies to over winter in the greenhouse so they had to go .. Gin

I've had them farming mealies on my plants a number of times - what seems harmless now may get to be a major problem in the future. My vote is to get them away from your orchids if at all possible.

Living in Florida, i keep couple baby lizard in the area where are my orchids. If there is a formation of ants colonies, the lizards take care of it.

But the only inconvenient about lizard, it's my wive.
I had big warning from her.:angry:

It is hard to make both happy, the orchids and the wive :hmm

The intentions of the ants is not honorable. Get rid of them as quickly as you can.