From JLOZIER@wvnvm.wvnet.eduThu May 30 10:48:55 1996 Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 17:10:12 -0400 (EDT) From: "Lozier, John Douglas" To: "Robert M. Kane" Subject: Re: Ant Problems In Peru Resent-Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 17:12:25 -0400 (EDT) Resent-From: "Lozier, John Douglas" Resent-To: "SANET-MG" Comments-on: Wed, 29 May 1996 17:11:58 -0400 (EDT) Comments-of: "Lozier, John Douglas" I sent this just to Kane when I meant to send it to the whole list. JL. ***----------------------> Original Mail From <----------------------*** "Lozier, John Douglas" ***------------------------------------------------------------------*** This would not apply to carniverous ants eating earthworms, but I seem to recall being told (by anthropologist Jeff Bentley, working in Honduras, I think), about a trick to keep leaf-eating ants from attacking new young plants. They spread rice grains in a ring around the plants, and the ants were distracted for a day or two while they carried the rice away. By then, the plants were strong enough to resist better on their own. Maybe somebody can verify this story, or refute it. Best regards. On 05/29/96 at 10:34:44 Robert M. Kane said: >in terms of community gardens run by Mother's Clubs. In the coffee tree >nurseries, carniverous ants are killing the earth worms in the humus beds. >Because of our organic certification we can't apply any available >insecticides. At the same time, ants are consuming the small plants in the >Mother's Clubs gardens before they can produce anything. I'm at the point of >Does anyone have any ideas on how to attack this problem organically? What is >the least toxic way to handle the problem using chemicals? ***---------------------> End of Original Mail <---------------------***