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Can ants eat aphids

Started By Temperateants , Apr 11 2020 4:59 AM

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11 replies to this topic

#1 Offline Temperateants - Posted April 11 2020 - 4:59 AM

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Hi all,

my mom's plant has aphids, and she is going to use pesticides on them, which seems like a waste. I know that ants will tend to aphids, but given the opportunity, will they eat aphid meat?

Thanks.

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#2 Offline TennesseeAnts - Posted April 11 2020 - 5:46 AM

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Some ants farm aphids specifically for their meat, so I would give it a try.

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#3 Offline FSTP - Posted April 11 2020 - 9:31 AM

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Mmmmm aphid meat

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#4 Offline TheMicroPlanet - Posted April 11 2020 - 9:37 AM

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Only savages eat raw aphid meat. I prefer to grill mine.

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#5 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted April 11 2020 - 10:22 AM

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I eat mine with honeydew dressing on top.

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Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

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#6 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 11 2020 - 10:40 AM

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What plant were the aphids on? Just curious.

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#7 Offline Temperateants - Posted April 11 2020 - 10:58 AM

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What plant were the aphids on? Just curious.

Mei Gui hua, which on google translates to Asain rose. Any flower experts with more precise and scientific translations?

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#8 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted April 11 2020 - 11:26 AM

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It is scientifically classified as Rosa rugosa thunb.

"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#9 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 11 2020 - 1:28 PM

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You could remind her that very little harm will come to plant, and the aphids will most likely disappear once it gets hot out.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#10 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted April 11 2020 - 1:36 PM

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Plants=aphids=ants=good

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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#11 Offline ANTdrew - Posted April 11 2020 - 2:02 PM

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Wait until you see my next update in my Native Plants journal.

"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#12 Offline Temperateants - Posted April 14 2020 - 3:48 AM

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Update! My Formica seem to enjoy aphid meat, as after I froze and dipped the aphids in boiling water to get rid of mites, they quickly grabbed it and started chewing on it. The next morning, (today) the aphids were all torn apart and shriveled up.