Why are there ants in my maple tree?

5 years ago

I mean, when I said in another post the ants are everywhere this year, I wasn't kidding! I set up tables underneath the maple, and my guests kept saying ants were falling down onto them from the tree...yea, right...one or five too many beers there, eh? LOL!

But actually no LOL -- I noticed today there were ants crawling up and down the trunk. I can't figure out what they're going after up there -- it was trimmed back in early spring so those wounds should have closed by now re: oozing sap. Maybe they're tending aphids? But what are aphids doing up in maple trees? What the heck is going on and are the ants plotting some sort of worldwide domination attack because dang it sure seems like it!

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porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author

5 years ago

The tree is near the house but not that close to it, and there is no overhang to the house. I do have a log-sided house so have to keep an eye on what tries to take up residence; carpenter bees are a recurring issue. I feel bad having to off them but it's either that or siding damage. Ants I have no qualms about offing.

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Comments (10)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Aphids in maples are not uncommon so likely a honeydew expedition of ants…unless they are carpenter ants.

tj
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm not sure if they're carpenter ants, they're not small, but they're not really large. They're black. I just had the exterminator out for the carpenter bees, too bad I didn't notice the ants in the tree then, I could have asked him. But seriously, every time I turn around out there I find more ants, just seems way above normal.

Although, it IS kind of funny that ants were dropping out of a tree.... LOL!!!
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lovemycorgi z5b SE michigan
5 years ago
mxk3, lots of ants on my property as well, northeast of Ann Arbor. In my flower gardens, coming up between pavers in my patio and front walkway, in my pumpkin patch, pretty much everywhere. I don’t remember it ever being this bad. Tons of dragonflies too, I’ve never seen so many!
GardenHo_MI_Z5
5 years ago
Why does a bear sh*t in the woods?

Haha couldnt resist!
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
5 years ago
I would strongly suspect that your maple is infested with a scale species of one kind or another, perhaps lecanium. They create a lot of honeydew, which is a huge attraction for ants. mxk3, are you familiar with those kinds of critters?
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
5 years ago
Scales in general - yes; lecanium - no.
bengz6westmd
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Ants go up every tree. That's their nature -- no way to stop it. They don't directly damage trees, but carpenter ants excavate into already dead wood and other ants support and defend aphids & some scale insects (which isn't a good thing).
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
though.. in the extreme ... i cant think i ever heard of aphids killing an otherwise healthy tree .. i mean .. ive seen hail storms nearly completely deleaf a tree... and they simply releaf ... i cant image how an aphid explosion to do much worse ....

yes.. im am sure there are the exceptions to the idea ... lets here them????

ken
l pinkmountain
5 years ago
Is this tree near your house? There is the possibility that the carpenter ants are in your house and just coincidentally checking out the tree. Or it could be as others have said. I have a tree next to the house with a lot of ants on it. Carpenter ants thrive in dead wood damp moist conditions. Not good for wood homes either . . . It could be a coincidence, it could be a problem. Difficult to tell. But do look around your home for places that might be infested with carpenter ants.