I would look carefully for aphids or scale, rober. If you have ants in your tree, most certainly they are there to tend the aphids or harvest from the scale. Use a magnifying glass to look closely. You'll want to treat for aphids or scale, as well as put down ant bait to get rid of the ants.

Patty S.

Your young trees need extra protection from ants. If you "Google" tangle trap, it will give you the information you need to control them.

There are several postings on the subject, but simply - it is a sticky substance applied to the trunk to keep ants from climbing the tree to plant their "cows-aphids" on the leaves sucking juices from them.

Bejay

ah-so the ants actually bring the aphids. i did find what look like leaf hoppers under some leaves but assumed they were aphids because of the ants. I sprayed them with seven spray but will do a search & find something more aphid specific. The trunks are covered with black foam pipe insulation to keep rutting bucks from rubbing off the bark. I lost 2 trees last fall to a buck. He rubbed the bark off of 2 trees completely. I noticed what was going on & wrapped the rest before he killed more. Anyway I sprayed the foam & let the seven run down the trunk & sprayed the mulch heavily at the ground. I'm not big on pesticides but these are new trees & are not bearing any fruit.