Q. We have a
couple pyracantha bushes. We noticed this past summer some small, pen point
sized, bright green bugs on the end of the branches. A day or two later I
noticed ants in those same places but couldn’t tell if they were eating the
bugs or not. Please advise if we need to do something.
couple pyracantha bushes. We noticed this past summer some small, pen point
sized, bright green bugs on the end of the branches. A day or two later I
noticed ants in those same places but couldn’t tell if they were eating the
bugs or not. Please advise if we need to do something.
 |
| Pyracantha, sometimes called firethorn,, with its red berries.Some have orange, yellow and off-red. |
A. From the sound
of it the bush had aphids, sometimes called plant lice, but summer is not the
usual time that aphids appear. Aphids normally appear with new growth in the
spring and disappear when it gets hot.
of it the bush had aphids, sometimes called plant lice, but summer is not the
usual time that aphids appear. Aphids normally appear with new growth in the
spring and disappear when it gets hot.
Ants are attracted to aphids because
the aphids release sugary honeydew when they’re feeding on the pyracantha
leaves.
the aphids release sugary honeydew when they’re feeding on the pyracantha
leaves.
+compressed+and+cropped.jpg) |
| Leaf cupping on plums due to aphid feeding in the spring. |
Ants “farm” the aphids, take this
honeydew excretion and use it. So you may see ants traveling up and down the
pyracantha gathering and transporting honeydew to their nest in the soil. Ants
may even move the aphids around to new locations to expand their “herd”.
honeydew excretion and use it. So you may see ants traveling up and down the
pyracantha gathering and transporting honeydew to their nest in the soil. Ants
may even move the aphids around to new locations to expand their “herd”.
It’s not a big problem if these are
just aphids. The aphids will cause some stickiness on the leaves and may cause
leaves to fall from the plant if the feeding becomes heavy. But that time of
year I would not expect them to be a big problem.
just aphids. The aphids will cause some stickiness on the leaves and may cause
leaves to fall from the plant if the feeding becomes heavy. But that time of
year I would not expect them to be a big problem.
 |
| Ants herding aphids for their honeydew |
If the problems is excessive the
easiest thing to do is mix some soap and water, about as much as you would use
when you would wash your dishes. Put it in a spray bottle and spray the soapy
mixture directly on these green bugs, usually on the underside of the leaves.
easiest thing to do is mix some soap and water, about as much as you would use
when you would wash your dishes. Put it in a spray bottle and spray the soapy
mixture directly on these green bugs, usually on the underside of the leaves.
You will probably have to do this
every couple of days since soap and water does not leave any poisonous residue
on the leaf surface and these spots will repopulate quickly after the spraying
is done.
every couple of days since soap and water does not leave any poisonous residue
on the leaf surface and these spots will repopulate quickly after the spraying
is done.
If you want more permanent control
then you can use a traditional insecticide that has a label listing ornamental
plants and aphid control. You can also treat the ant nest in the soil. Pouring
boiling water on the ant hill will give some temporary organic control of the
ants.
then you can use a traditional insecticide that has a label listing ornamental
plants and aphid control. You can also treat the ant nest in the soil. Pouring
boiling water on the ant hill will give some temporary organic control of the
ants.
We have ants on our pyracantha, but no aphids is this common?