Ants & cati

Hi just wondering why ants always pile up dirt on top of my barrel sp ?
I blow it off and the next day they are pileling it back up,strange.
Has anyone eles have seen this happen ?

cheers

Not had it happen, but I suggest you control the ant problem as it will only get worse. They tend to get under the root mass and this seems to make it very hard for water infiltration. In effect rendering normal watering almost ineffective.

Ants can mean mealy bug. Might be worth checking it out

yes, ants can farm mealy bugs in the same way they do with aphids on roses. The mealies (or whooly aphids) secrete a sugary substance which the ants eat. in return, the ants protect the mealies from predators.
like this:


in addition to this, severe nest building activity can disrupt roots, resulting in stunted plant growth and perhaps encourage root mealy down there as well. If your barrels are Ferocactus sp, the ants may also be harvesting a sweet nectar like substance that the plants produce near the areoles.

yeah,
I'd be worried about ants and get rid of them with some horrible poison.
Its them or some bad/sad looking cacti otherwise

lewis wrote:

If your barrels are Ferocactus sp, the ants may also be harvesting a sweet nectar like substance that the plants produce near the areoles.

Thanks everyone for all your help,im pretty fussy with my plants.
So im always on the look out for mealy bugs.

I think lewis has hit the nail on the head with this reply.
It only happens with my fero's,should have mentiond this.
Its had me wondering for years,thanks mate

I noticed some ants doing this on a small Ferocactus setispinus, hmm might uproot it in spring and see if there is any ants. Now I know why they are doing it. I swear they stole a forming seed pod from the same plant too.

Yes, I too have noticed ants around one of my flowering succulents. I assume they are after the sweet sweet nectar. But they don't seem to be in any high numbers (yet). But I might control them with a bait anyhow.