Re: Distracting ants from old food sources

On Wed, 28 May 2025 16:56:20 -0000 (UTC)
bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

I've got a pecan tree with an ant trail running up the trunk.
Presumably the ants (argentine variety) are farming aphids or
something up in the crown.
>
Initially the ants were attracted to a bait station hung on
the trunk, but after a failed experiment in bait recipes they
lost interest. I've since replaced the bait and station, but
they haven't shown any interest, trailing past the new bait.
>
I'd like to distract them, even if only temporarily, from the
old pheromone trails in hopes they're re-explore and discover
the new bait station. 
>
I'm thinking about simply coating the trunk with dish soap
somewhere above where the bait station is located. However,
I don't want to drive them off the trunk entirely. There
are many alternative paths for ants to reach the crown via
nearby trees which are entirely out of my reach.
>
Thoughts and stories would be most welcome....

A hummingbird feeder trick for ants is a moat. If your trunk is round
enough it might be doable. Search on ant moat hummingbird if interested
in seeing these.

There's a product called Tanglefoot, sticky stuff that can trap
insects climbing the trunk:

https://www.evergreenseeds.com/what-is-tanglefoot/

You could also apply stuff to a "rag" and tie it around the trunk.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids  MI