Carpenter Ant Invasion!

15 years ago

I was outside the other day and clipped some dead wood from a Picea omorika 'Bruns'. I then noticed several fatty black ants (assuming carpenter ants) crawling around in that area. I tried to see where they were coming from but couldn't figure it out. I didn't think too much more about it so I moved on.

Tonight I just pulled that small Picea omorika with the dead leader and there were carpenter ants everywhere! It was getting dark and I quickly ditched the plant as they starting crawling on my sandals. I'm not sure if they were in the root system or somewhere else in the plant.

Should I just shrug this off? Should I take any action?

I'm mainly worried about that 'Bruns' now. I wonder if I should inspect it further to see if I can find any borer like entry holes?

Either that other P. omorika was on the way out and the ants took advantage or they caused its demise. Its quite suspect that the leader pushed growth 45 days ago and now the leader is a dead brittle stick.

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Comments (5)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
15 years ago
Shrug it off. Carpenter ants are interested in dead or decaying wood.

tj
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
are you that good on ID??? ... are you sure they are carpenter ants????

the only thing ants trigger in my mind.. when i see too many on any given plant.. of any type is.. aphids.. they farm the aphids.. and milk them of honeydew .. as disgusting as thought is.. lol ... otherwise they are being advantageous regarding other pre-existing problems..

in other words.. they did not cause the dead wood ... they are harvesting it.. if in fact that is what they are doing ...

otherwise.. i ignore them ... though it is rather exhilarating.. to have a bunch climbing thru the hairs on your body.. whether feet or hands.. lol ...

ken
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whaas_5a
Original Author
15 years ago
I went back to the 'Bruns' today and as soon as I shake the tree I see these fatties running rampant on the trunk and throughout the branches. I can't find any other insects on the tree nor can I figure out where they are coming from. I've never seen so many scurrying around on the trunk and branches before. Especially for a healthy tree...at least as it seems for now.

Is it quite possible they like the sap of the tree?

Little buggers are fast so it was tough to take a pic.

{{gwi:796527}}
dcsteg
15 years ago
They have a nest in there. Get rid of them.

A neighbor had them in a Red Bud tree. Used some kind of white powder to get rid of them.

See link.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Carpenter Ants
whaas_5a
Original Author
15 years ago
The link list Sevin for trees. It suggest you find the colony but I can't find it!lol! It says to look for saw dust...cripes with mulch all around? Perhaps I just pull all the mulch back and see what happens and go from there.