There's a group of very stubborn ants that just wouldn't leave my VdB alone.  I've been spraying it with neem/soap every week. That works for maybe an hour and then it dries up and they come right back.  I've tried sprinkling it with cinnamon, which slows them down but doesn't get rid of them.  But today I looked and the ants weren't at the new growth anymore.  They were huddling down below.  I also noticed these guys pictured below.  Anyone know what they are?  

There seems to be a turf war building since their arrival.

 

I don't know, but if they eat the ants I'll take one.

75+ plants in pots. One has a ton of ants I started fighting today.

Fico Preto even! Caviar ants?!! AAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mix molasses with warm water pour around base of tree, won't kill them but they will leave the area.  If that fails, Surrender is a great powder, ants leave.

If those guys dont do any damage I would wait it out. Nature has a way of dealing with things.

You sure they are ants? Look a little like thrips. Extra large Thrips I might add

The turf war is between the ants and these mystery insects.  I took a few more shots.  Any idea what this is, anyone?  Weird thing is I think they were shooting white projectiles from their rear ends.  

 

Probably sharpshooter leafhoppers.The easy "tell" is when you go to squash them they scurry to the
other side of the stem.

https://www.google.com/search?q=leaf+hoppers&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ved=0ahUKEwjCzOTsx8jTAhXJzVQKHf4KAog4ChCwBAg6&biw=1280&bih=884

Yup, looks like Glassy Winged Sharpshooter... i've got them also.

https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/gwss.shtml

I think it would be a pointless endeavor, as they feed on such a huge and diverse amout of plants.
You would have to bombard your entire neighborhood. There may be some info on the link I posted above (I haven't looked at it in awhile).

btw, they can carry a deadly disease that effects grape vines called pierce's disease.

Then I guess my thumb and index finger will be busy squishing these this weekend.

There are too many hosts for chemical eradication.Most people in SoCa. have at least one citrus.
A Psyllid presentation that I attended shockingly stated that the number of citrus in Cali residential
yards exceeded the number under cultivation for commercial fruit production.

The best control is biological,don't kill off the good guys.

Yes, that's a sharpshooter and it's a subject of quarantines so I suggest that you comply by not sending out plant material (maybe cleaned dormant cuttings would be okay).

Glassy winged sharpshooters transmit Xylella fastidiosa in grapes (Pierce's disease).  This bacteria is a matter of great concern in Europe at the present moment and figs are listed by the EU as a host.  I've searched and found no evidence of the bacteria being found in Ficus carica.  One large collector in southern Italy has many olives dying because of this bacteria but he sees no signs of the disease in his figs.  I had samples from 108 of my trees tested earlier this month and the bacteria was not present.  However, seeing the sharpshooters on your fig tree causes me some concern that the bacteria may get carried into figs.

Here's a map of GWSS infested areas of California: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/pdcp/Maps/GWSS_Distribution_2016.jpg

Hi, new to the forum.
In regards to to ants; most insects despise mint. I plant it around my bee hives to keep the ants out. Not sure that would help in this instance, but mint also deters termites. :)

Question for everyone: Sevin (Carbaryl) is the suggested treatment, as its a systemic toxin.  Many people seem to use it here.  Is there a time period after application where I should avoid eating the fruit/leaves?  I'd like to know what precautions I should take, since we're growing edibles.  Also, how bad is this for dogs?  I intend to be very careful, but my pug is a weirdo who loves snacking on pine bark mulch.

I just placed an order for these. Although I imagine you could find them in the woods....

https://www.costco.ca/Praying-Mantis-Natural-Insect-Control-Egg-Case.product.10300216.html?catalogId=11201&langId=-24&storeId=10302&krypto=82ChrJuV1AaZ2cv1N0gGb91YFW%2B34TeZKKN0tyZrBlhWeQ4acvjOGskLh4ZkX6dzIKiv65aNd9lg%0AkGvVLRKSUh0nQP7JgqYudtqapVzX7IwoxAyHpVI8sr7NA1E01WE8

I also got some venus fly traps... 

Crud! It's because I'm in Canada. You should have seen this:

 

To stop the ants from climbing the tree apply tangelfoot to the trunk.

Ants farm things like scale and aphids and mealybugs for the secretions they make. Ants will protect aphids/scale from their natural predators. Block the ants from coming up and your natural predators will have a shot at taking them down. 

Good thread, I learned a lot...

I have olive trees (inground)....all my grapes are Muscadines, so no worry there...thought it was only Vitus Vinefera (bunch grapes) that were suceptible to pierce...



Julierou, welcome to the forum, I too noticed mint helps, but your advice will spurr me to action, I have 20+ olive trees to augment with mint. :)


Harvey, thanks for the info, does the collector in IT have his olives in pots, or in ground? Would canopy density matter?

TheASTrader, thank you for starting this thread.

Thanks for pointing these out. I'll keep a close eye on my citrus. Like mentioned above, I use the tanglefoot for my plants for ants. Look at the "right" way to apply it and don't put it directly on the plant. Ants follow at lot of aphids too. I love the praying mantis idea. We have had a lot of them in our neighborhood b/c people purchase them online and ladybugs. I'm going ask my friend where she got hers. If I find a deal, I will post it. I don't plan on selling any of my figgies when I get them so I'm not worried about spreading the "cooties" lol  Anymore info on good "white fly" killers..I'm ears. My other house has Gardenias that host them like crazy! ugh