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Re: Ants in compost in California

Ants also "farm" white flies, as they do aphids.  If you have white
flies you also have ants.  Basically the ants are fierce protectors
of their food sources, so in exchange of food product that the aphids
and white flies produce, they defend the white flies and aphids from
predators.

White flies can be extremely damaging to crops.  In So. Cal we have
had a major problem with it the last ten years.  Good news though,
the government agency that helps control these things have really
done it right this time controlling these little buggers.  Instead of
spraying pesticides, they employed a major project of releasing
beneficial insects that devoured the white flies.  We shouldn't have
nearly as much of a problem this year.  My mom's citrus trees have
been virtually destroyed by white flies.  You've really got to keep
on top of them and wipe them out fast because they multiply like
crazy.  The sticky yellow traps with tanglefoot on them really help
as does spraying ultra fine horticultural oils.

Good luck.  Death to aphids and white flies!!!!



> I'll keep turning the pile and see what happens. I have not noticed any
> aphids yet. I started gardening last year in the late summer so this is my
> first full season of gardening. White flies were my main concern last year
> because they got out of hand early on. Thanks for the info.
>
> Kurt
> (Southern California Zone 9)
>
>
Kim Kiernan
kimk@pacbell.net
Laguna Hills, So. California

zone 9, Sunset zone 22/23
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