ANT

There are thousands of ant species in our country, but the most common one that people encounter worldwide in the home and garden is the black house ant. Of course, spotting some ants floating around the garden is next to a certainty – they love the nectar of both broad bean and zucchini flowers – but encountering a problem that is caused by these ants is very rare.

Rather than thinking of the ant as a pest itself, think of it as an indicator of the existence of others. More often than not an ant is cleaning up the mess left by another. Sucking insects, such as whitefly, aphids and thrip, leave behind a black, sugary residue – honeydew – that the ants feed on and clean up. Of course, it’s not all good news. Ants are smart and organised and acutely aware of their sugar mummies and daddies, and how to protect them from natural predators.

When you notice an outbreak of ants, don’t panic (like my mum always does), but rather inspect for more information. The first part of the eradication process is cleaning the plant of its food – a soapy spray or sponge usually suffices – and then dealing with those who are actually responsible.