Ants are common visitors to homes, both inside and outside, and when they decide to settle in, it can become difficult to get rid of them. They are particularly attracted to sweet and sticky substances, meaning they may be drawn to your lemon tree. If you have noticed a few ants crawling around your lemon tree, chances are, there’s an infestation in progress. It’s important to address the problem as soon as possible, as it can cause damage to your lemon tree, as well as to your surrounding plants.
It’s possible that these ants were drawn to the sweet-scented flower sap of your lemon tree, or even the fruit itself. Lemons and their lemon-scented oils are attractive to many ants. In addition, these pests are drawn to moisture, so they may have turned to your lemon tree as a source of water.
Ant infestations can have negative consequences for your lemon tree. Ants will, apart from extracting nectar and sugary honeydew, feed on the bark of young, thin-barked trees and tiny swells on the stems, called galls, and can interfere with the tree’s photosynthesis process, ultimately hindering the growth of the tree and its fruit. Not only that, but if the ants decide to migrate indoors, they can cause even more damage.
The good news is that there are a few simple steps you can take to get rid of ants from your lemon tree and prevent them from coming back. One of these is to create a natural ant barrier by sprinkling diatomaceous earth around the base of the tree; this powder is toxic to ants, but perfectly safe for humans. Another solution is to create a sticky ant trap with a mix of honey, yoghurt and peanut butter; the honey is sure to attract the ants to the scent, and the sticky component of the mixture will trap the ants on contact.
In addition to that, you can spray an organic insecticide on the lemon tree to get rid of the ants without harming the tree, or use a mixture of borax and sugar to create an ant-killing bait. If these solutions don’t work, it might be time to call in a professional exterminator to help get rid of the problem.
What kind of ants like to infest lemon trees?
The type of ant most likely to infest lemon trees is the brown-headed or Argentine ant, or the four-toothed myrmeleon ant. These species are most attracted to citrus trees, as well as any other type of fruit-bearing trees in general.
Brown-headed ants feed on other insects and honeydew from aphids and scale insects. While this is not necessarily harmful to the tree, it can act as a beacon to an even larger infestation of other insects that can cause harm to the tree. On the other hand, myrmeleon ants feed on scale insects and protect citrus trees by keeping these pests in check. While these ants are not a nuisance, their presence can attract other, more damaging pests.
They are often confused with odorous house ants, which also feed on honeydew, but that species is more attracted to kitchen scraps than trees, so if you’ve found them in your lemon tree, it’s likely to be from one of the two species mentioned above.
What damage can ants do to my lemon tree?
An infestation of ants on your lemon tree can cause a host of various problems. As previously mentioned, certain species of ants feed on sugary substances like flower nectar and honeydew, which can damage the photosynthesis process of the tree; this can reduce the tree’s food reserves, slowing its growth and hindering fruit production. Furthermore, the ants can eat the bark of young, thin-barked trees, weakening them and eventually leading to the death of the tree.
In addition, ants can transport harmful pathogens, including viruses and fungi, to the tree and surrounding plants, thereby exposing them to disease. This can seriously reduce the lifespan of a tree, and cause further damage if the problem is not fixed. Lastly, ant colonies often produce ‘honeydew’, a sticky watery substance, which can become a breeding ground for mildew and mould, potentially leading to rotting fruits, leaves, and twigs.
How can i stop ants from attacking my lemon tree?
It is important to take steps to protect your lemon tree from ants and other pests, although prevention is often easier than remediation. To stop ants from attacking your lemon trees, you can:
- Prune the lemon tree regularly to keep it in good condition and healthy.
- Clean up any accidental spills of food or sweet drinks around the tree.
- Spray the tree against insects throughout the season.
- Remove weeds and other vegetation that could host ant colonies.
- Eliminate standing water and any other sources of moisture.
- Create an ant trap from a mix of honey and boric acid.
- Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the base of the tree.
- Keep your plants fertilized and watered properly.
How can I prevent ants from coming back?
Once you have managed to get rid of the ants, it is important to take steps to ensure they don’t come back. To do this, focus on prevention rather than trying to fight the infestation. To prevent ants from invading your lemon tree again:
- Keep the garden and surrounding area clean, with no food scraps lying around.
- Shut the doors and windows securely.
- Place ant bait near all entry points.
- Bring the bins and compost piles away from the tree.
- Ensure that the surrounding area is kept free from foliage and vegetation where ants could live.
- Spray your tree with an insecticide several times a year.
- Check for any ant activity between the months of March and August.
- Make sure to use environmentally friendly pest management practices.
What methods can I use to get rid of ants on my lemon tree?
If your lemon tree has already been infested by ants, there are a few simple methods you can use to get rid of them. Some of the most effective methods include:
- Setting an ant trap using a mixture of honey and boric acid.
- Using diatomaceous earth to create a natural ant barrier around the tree.
- Spraying an organic insecticide on the lemon tree.
- Treating the lemon tree with a limestone-based bait.
- Using diluted soap to create an ant-repelling barrier.
- Placing ant baits near ant trails and entrance points.
- Calling a professional pest control expert.
What crops can ants damage?
In addition to lemon trees, ants can also cause damage to a variety of other crops and plants. Other than citrus trees, ants are known to be attracted to sweet food sources, such as apples, peaches, pears, figs, and avocados, as well as melons, tomatoes, beans, and strawberries. In addition, they can also cause serious damage to grass and flower beds.
Certain types of ants, such as the fire ant, are particularly known to cause serious damage to crops. Fire ants feed on small insects, but they also destroy the fruits, leaves, stems, and buds of plants, which can have a serious impact on the health of the crop. Infestations of fire ants can be very costly for farmers, as their actions can dramatically reduce harvests.
It is important to take steps to prevent ant infestations from occurring in the first place, as this can be a much more effective (and less costly) option than trying to remove them once they become established.
