Ants

What you see

Familiar trails up stems and trunks. In the garden they are rarely the direct problem - they are the symptom and the accomplice.

Damage

Ant trails on stems and trunks, usually leading to a colony of aphids or scale. Loose dry soil around roots where nests undermine plants. Occasional damage to soft ripe fruit.

Lifecycle on this coast

Colonies persist for years. They actively farm aphids, scale and mealybug for honeydew, carrying them to fresh growth and defending them from predators.

When to act

Ants on a path are fine. Act when you find them shepherding aphids or scale up a plant.

Months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October

Plants it bothers

Citrus, Peach, Rose, Apple, Broad bean, Fig

Natural enemies

Ground beetle, Bird, Lizard

Remedies

Grease bands, Diatomaceous earth

The thing people get wrong

Ants are the reason your ladybirds are not winning. They physically drive predators off an aphid colony to protect their honeydew supply. Band the trunk and you have not killed a single aphid, but you have taken the bodyguards away - and the aphid colony usually collapses on its own within a fortnight.