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Author Topic: Anthill on my cactus  (Read 6350 times)

Greentoe

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Anthill on my cactus
« on: March 20, 2015, 08:22:00 PM »

Should I be worried this?

I'm hoping the ants might help keep other bugs away, but I'm also a little worried that if they keep expanding their anthill they might bury my cactus.
« Last Edit: March 20, 2015, 08:25:42 PM by Greentoe »
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New Wisdom

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Re: Anthill on my cactus
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2015, 08:05:00 PM »

This can be a problem. Instead of keeping bugs away ants will literally farm mealybugs for their sugary excretion.
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Greentoe

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Re: Anthill on my cactus
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2015, 08:24:03 PM »

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be eradicating the ants soon.
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New Wisdom

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Re: Anthill on my cactus
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2015, 08:35:17 PM »

Although in some cases they help out by keeping other bugs away.  Like with cacti that have extrafloral nectaries that create their own sugar excretion.  The ants will hang out and eat that and protect the plant, but TBM's do not have extraforal nectaries.

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