I've got a pecan tree with an ant trail running up the trunk.
Presumably the ants (argentine variety) are farming aphids or
something up in the crown.

Initially the ants were attracted to a bait station hung on
the trunk, but after a failed experiment in bait recipes they
lost interest. I've since replaced the bait and station, but
they haven't shown any interest, trailing past the new bait.

I'd like to distract them, even if only temporarily, from the
old pheromone trails in hopes they're re-explore and discover
the new bait station.

I'm thinking about simply coating the trunk with dish soap
somewhere above where the bait station is located. However,
I don't want to drive them off the trunk entirely. There
are many alternative paths for ants to reach the crown via
nearby trees which are entirely out of my reach.

Thoughts and stories would be most welcome....

Thanks for reading,

bob prohaska

On Wed, 28 May 2025 16:56:20 -0000 (UTC)
bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

I've got a pecan tree with an ant trail running up the trunk.
Presumably the ants (argentine variety) are farming aphids or
something up in the crown.

Initially the ants were attracted to a bait station hung on
the trunk, but after a failed experiment in bait recipes they
lost interest. I've since replaced the bait and station, but
they haven't shown any interest, trailing past the new bait.

I'd like to distract them, even if only temporarily, from the
old pheromone trails in hopes they're re-explore and discover
the new bait station.

I'm thinking about simply coating the trunk with dish soap
somewhere above where the bait station is located. However,
I don't want to drive them off the trunk entirely. There
are many alternative paths for ants to reach the crown via
nearby trees which are entirely out of my reach.

Thoughts and stories would be most welcome....

A hummingbird feeder trick for ants is a moat. If your trunk is round
enough it might be doable. Search on ant moat hummingbird if interested
in seeing these.

There's a product called Tanglefoot, sticky stuff that can trap
insects climbing the trunk:

https://www.evergreenseeds.com/what-is-tanglefoot/

You could also apply stuff to a "rag" and tie it around the trunk.
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI

Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> wrote:

Thoughts and stories would be most welcome....

A hummingbird feeder trick for ants is a moat. If your trunk is round
enough it might be doable. Search on ant moat hummingbird if interested
in seeing these.

The problem is bark roughness. I'd have to caulk the bark to the moat.
Not impossible, but I'm hoping for something simpler.

There's a product called Tanglefoot, sticky stuff that can trap
insects climbing the trunk:

https://www.evergreenseeds.com/what-is-tanglefoot/

Again, sealing to the bark is the gotcha....

I might start by applying detergent foam around the trunk. I've got
that handy. Spraying the trunk with hydrogen peroxide is another idea,
but I'd have to go out and buy that.

Come to think of it, just spraying the trail with water is even
easier...I don't expect it to work, but neither will it harm....

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska

On 5/28/2025 1:48 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Leon Fisk <lfiskgr@gmail.invalid> wrote:

Thoughts and stories would be most welcome....

A hummingbird feeder trick for ants is a moat. If your trunk is round
enough it might be doable. Search on ant moat hummingbird if interested
in seeing these.

The problem is bark roughness. I'd have to caulk the bark to the moat.
Not impossible, but I'm hoping for something simpler.

There's a product called Tanglefoot, sticky stuff that can trap
insects climbing the trunk:

https://www.evergreenseeds.com/what-is-tanglefoot/

Again, sealing to the bark is the gotcha....

I might start by applying detergent foam around the trunk. I've got
that handy. Spraying the trunk with hydrogen peroxide is another idea,
but I'd have to go out and buy that.

Come to think of it, just spraying the trail with water is even
easier...I don't expect it to work, but neither will it harm....

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska

Tanglefoot might work if you first wrap the tree with a 1 1/2" wide
strip of soft foam then wrap over that snugly all the way around with
duct tape. Then put the tanglefoot on the duct tape.

Bob F <bobnospam@gmail.com> wrote:

Tanglefoot might work if you first wrap the tree with a 1 1/2" wide
strip of soft foam then wrap over that snugly all the way around with
duct tape. Then put the tanglefoot on the duct tape.

It looks like the detergent foam did the trick. The ants recovered
their old trail within a couple of hours, but they also noticed the
new bait station.

Thanks for everybody's replies!

bob prohaska