Aphids and ants on currants - how to get rid of?

All summer residents are very sensitive to their garden plants, protect them and take care of them. Plants, in turn, thank them for an excellent harvest. But sometimes it happens that a tree, shrub or vegetable crop gets sick and in this case it is necessary to identify the problem as soon as possible and start solving it. So if you notice that the leaves on the currant bushes began to shiver and curl, then most likely aphids have appeared on the back of the leaves, which means that the ants have already settled down somewhere nearby, since these insects live in symbiosis and almost always act together. Further in the article we will analyze: aphids and ants on currants.

Aphids and ants on currants: the appearance of insects on the bush

There is only one reason for the appearance of aphids - it feeds on plant sap, therefore, not a single crop is immune from the invasion of these small insects, except, perhaps, especially odorous marigolds and geraniums, as well as essential oil plants. And the young foliage of the currant will just be an excellent delicacy for the aphids. Eating on juice, aphids release a sweet liquid, the so-called "honeydew", which ants love very much and because of which their symbiosis works.

Ants are able to transfer aphids to new, younger, more succulent plants, as well as protect them from other insects. They arrange their anthills near the food source, sometimes right under the currant bush. On your site, you can find brown forest ants, which are located under stones or build an earthen mound. Sod ants in different shades of brown and black garden ants make nests in soil or rotten wood. All of them adore "honeydew", which means they are distributors of aphids in your garden. Aphids, in turn, multiply very quickly, one insect is able to create a whole colony. In autumn, the females lay eggs under the bark of the shoots, and in the spring, with the onset of heat, the larvae crawl out and begin to draw juices from the currants, in connection with which the foliage withers, the berries become smaller and their number decreases. Too large a colony of insects can completely destroy the plant. So as soon as you notice the appearance of aphids or ants, immediately proceed to extermination, and you must fight both with both at the same time, this is the only way to solve this problem.

Aphids and ants on currants: folk methods of struggle

It is worth resorting to the use of chemicals when you have already tried everything else, since growing berries, fruits and vegetables on the site, we first of all care about the ecological purity of our harvest.

Folk remedies are all quite effective and absolutely safe for both plants and you. In addition, they most often do not require additional costs, since everything that is at hand can be used for the fight. First, stir up the anthill and sprinkle it well with boiling water. Perform this procedure daily for several days, and you will be able to completely eliminate insects in a specific place. Boric acid, which poses no danger to humans and pets, is harmful to ants. Mix it with egg and sugar, jam or jam, yeast or honey, and place these traps under the currant bushes.

Ants cannot stand the smell of garlic, so you can plant it around currant bushes or periodically rub the bottom of the branches with cloves of garlic. Tansy, wormwood, anise, valerian and tomato tops are also capable of warding off ants. Spread the greens around the currants and refresh the raw materials periodically to maintain the scent. Red hot ground pepper, ground cinnamon, or tobacco dust can help fight ants. Loosen the nests and sprinkle liberally with any of these substances. And finally, you can use kerosene, turpentine or diesel fuel, diluting with water and watering anthills (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water). Ants are very sensitive to odors, so strong-smelling products and herbs should be used in the fight.

Chemical methods of ant control

If you have made a choice in favor of chemicals, then buy products that contain diazonin. This poison is absorbed through the skin and paralyzes insects, they die within two to three days. Diazonin insecticides work for three weeks, then the treatment may have to be repeated. "Thunder 2", the drug is available in the form of granules. You will need to remove a layer of earth, pour in poison, then return the earth to its original place. The ants should completely disappear after a maximum of four days. When working with the drug, it is imperative to use personal protective equipment (rubber gloves and a respirator). "Muravyin" is also a granular preparation that must be buried to a depth of 2-3 cm along the edge of the anthill, one package should be enough to process five square meters of soil. The drug is positioned as safe for plants and pets, but it is recommended to use gloves and a respirator when working with it. "Muratsid" is a concentrate that should be diluted in water and watered anthills. You can also prepare baits and place them under the currant bushes, for this the drug must be mixed with sugar, honey and water. "Anteater" is produced in the form of ampoules, on the basis of which a solution is prepared and watered with anthills. One ampoule of the preparation is enough to water 8-9 anthills.

How to get rid of aphids?

Do not forget that in parallel with the extermination of anthills, you have to fight against aphids, since she is still the main pest here. First of all, due attention must be paid to the prevention and annual work on caring for the plant, which means that it is necessary to act throughout the season, from the onset of spring to late autumn. It is necessary to catch the moment, while the buds have not yet blossomed, and abundantly spill the bushes with hot water (about 80 degrees). Since the sap flow has not yet begun, this will not harm the plants, but it will destroy the pests that hibernated on the bushes. At the same time, carry out an inspection of the bushes - all frozen or damaged branches should be cut off. In the summer, regularly weed under currant bushes, plant near velvet, they will attract ladybirds that feed on aphids to the site. Carry on a constant fight against anthills. If a small number of aphids are found on the plant, the affected shoot can be cut off and preventive treatment carried out according to one of the popular recipes. In the fall, tidy up the shrubs - cut off old shoots, collect fallen leaves and burn them all.

Treat the currants with protective preparations, and dig deep into the soil under the bushes. Regularly inspect currant foliage, it is not easy to find aphids at the initial stage, this can only be done if you are not too lazy to look under each leaf. If you find aphids, then you can prepare infusions and decoctions that will not harm the future harvest and will help to cope with harmful insects. With these compositions, you can spray or wipe the plants, you can completely dip the branches in the liquid. The main thing is to do this in dry weather, preferably in the evening.

Marigold.To prepare the infusion, you need dried flowers. Fill a ten-liter bucket halfway with the flowers and fill it to the brim with water. It is necessary to insist for three days, then strain and add liquid or crushed soap. It is not required to dilute with water additionally.

Red hot peppers. A kilogram of fresh pods must be crushed and filled with cold water (ten liters), put on fire and boiled for an hour. Then leave the broth in a dark place to infuse, then strain and store in the refrigerator. This concentrate should be diluted at the rate of 200 ml per 10 liters of water, adding a little soap just before processing the plants.

Garlic. Pour a pound of chopped garlic with five liters of water and leave for 24 hours. Then strain and sprinkle on the currants.

Tomato tops. To prepare a decoction, 6 kg of tops must be chopped and boiled for 30 minutes in 10 liters of water, then cooled, filtered and stored in the refrigerator. Before use, the concentrate should be diluted 1 to 5 and soap should be added.

Soda. You can use baking soda or soda ash, to prepare the solution, take 1 tablespoon of soda for every liter of water.

Ash and wormwood. Pour a pound of chopped wormwood with water (5 liters) and add a glass of ash and a little soap. Stir well and leave for five hours. Dilute 1: 2 with water before use.

Celandine. Grind 4 kg of plant materials and infuse in ten liters of water for 24 hours. It is not required to dilute before use. But since celandine can cause individual intolerance, it is recommended to use rubber gloves, a respirator and glasses. It is never possible to get rid of aphids with one treatment; it must be carried out at least three times with an interval of several days. And after that, it is imperative to carry out preventive spraying 2-3 times a month. If, as in the case of ants, the choice was made in favor of chemicals, then do not forget to strictly follow the instructions when preparing the solution and observe the recommended processing times for currants. Perform the first spraying in the spring, at the time of budding, then during the flowering period of currants. And spray the last time after you have harvested the entire crop.

Drugs are usually divided into two types: contact and intestinal. The former act by getting on the skin of aphids, and the latter enter its body along with the plant sap. The following drugs have proven themselves most well: "Aktara", "Inta-vir", "Karbofos", "Confidor", "Fury". But remember that when using chemicals, it is very important to use personal protective equipment and carefully mother containers that have had contact with insecticides.

Aphids and ants on currants: conclusion

In order for your currant bushes to remain healthy and bear fruit abundantly, you need to regularly inspect the plants and take comprehensive preventive measures in a timely manner. In this case, you will be able to avoid the appearance of aphids and ants on currants in dangerous proximity.