hmmm vegetarian ants.... USUALLY, Ants are milking sap sucking bugs like aphids and mealies. You can try Pyrethrins... kills bugs then is biodegradeable...

Most likely what you saw was ants cleaning up after the real culprits, cutworms, did the damage. Ants are a major part of Ma Natures recycling machine, cleaning up junk left by others.

try making tight fitting "collars" to put around the stems. I use pieces of old drip tape that I have cut in half lenghth-wise but alumunim foil will also work. Put this on each plant when you transplant next time and you should have no more problems.

If it's cutworms, empty toilet paper rolls work too.

Cutworms, a newspaper collar works, and biodegrades

I am growing broccoli in my back yard and every day I discover new holes in the leaves. I had an attack of cabbage worms but thought I'd gotten rid of them. Could it be anything else? Ants maybe? I've seen them around.

PortlandPaulC - did you ever get to the bottom of the ants on your broccoli problem? I think I have the same problem that you described. I'm in Seattle, I built a raised bed and planted four broccoli transplants -after two weeks I noticed that one of them wilted and upon closer inspection I saw loads of ants swarming around the base. When I removed that plant, the ants migrated to the second transplant. I've attached a photo since I can't see any aphids that they may be farming.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:139582}}

Beth52

Flea beetles make holes and LOVE crucifers, so I'd bet that's your culprit.

It is not the ants that are the problem. If Aphids are present they will be higher on the plant, not near the stem.

Why is it that some people think that ants only seem interested in aphids? Simply not true.

Many ants prefer a diet that is high in sugar content, and will forage for nectar, fruit, veggies, and other sources. They may have even done the damage to tender seedlings!

Yes, they might very well be opportunistic feeders, taking advantage of crops that are already damaged, but the fact that they are perfectly capable and willing to nibble the stems, stalks, and fruit of sugar-laden veggies should not be ignored.

I agree with rhizo. Certainly looks like the ants are munching the plant in the above foto.

Dan

i also agree! Ants devastated my eggplants and okras Now , I plant them in pots: it seems easier to control the pests that
way..

This exact problem with ants is happening with my broccoli in our fall garden. Thousands of them! What is the Solution?!

I transplanted the first victim plant away from the ant colony and sprayed all the ants after stirring their mound of dirt which was full of white eggs!

Now, the ants are attacking the transplant again along with a second broccoli plant, and both are seriously wilting.

This time there is no visible ant mound. I only have one good broccoli plant left! When I jiggle the base of the infested stems, ants pour out of the dirt.

They are NOT aphids and ZERO cutworms or cutworm damage has been observed.