Many insects approach Aloe Vera plants as they find it irresistible to stay away from them. Some become pests and suck the sap to stay alive. Ants quickly reach a spot where they find honeydew or sugary foods.
Are Ants Attracted To Aloe Vera Plants? Ants are attracted to Aloe Vera plants to consume the juicy core, seek shelter, attack mealy bugs and aphids, and eat dead insects. The moist soil in the pot also attracts them to live there. You can get rid of ants by putting Vaseline on the pot’s rim, spraying vinegar or lemon, changing the pot soil or washing, creating a water moat, and using sugar poison.
Aloe Vera is an easy-to-care plant because it does not require frequent watering but is susceptible to diseases like root rot due to damp soil conditions. The diseased plant attracts more bugs as its resistance to avoid insect attack decreases. Ants can also approach it when they find other bugs living on it, and they also like to live in a humid environment.
Why are ants attracted to Aloe Vera plants?
Aloe Vera plants can potentially attract ants by alluring their odor receptors and providing a humid place for these insects. The juicy core, pests, and dead bugs draw them close to plants.
Consume juicy core
The soft and sticky stuff is present in the plant leaves, and this juicy core grabs the attention of ants searching for a food source.
This slimy substance hydrates their bodies and provides many nutrients, like vitamins A, B9, B12, C, E, folate, choline, and other anti-oxidants.
It also contains essential elements, like copper, magnesium, calcium, sodium, zinc, chromium, manganese, etc., that help improve their health.
Mealy bugs and aphids
Various pests attack the Aloe Vera plant to live around the roots and feed on the juicy material. These organisms become a source of attraction for ants because they are omnivorous creatures.
Ants engage in mutualism with mealy bugs, scale insects, and aphids, in which both organisms get the ultimate benefit. They favor the growth of these plant pests by protecting them from predators.
In addition, they consume honeydew produced by aphids and other sap-sucking aphids and mealy bugs. This way, they reach an Aloe Vera plant for honeydew or other insects to eat them.
Seek shelter
Aloe Vera plants provide shelter to many tiny insects as they have large leaves. They can easily hide under the leaves to avoid detection by their predators.
In the same way, ants can also approach it for shelter when they do not find any other suitable place to live. It is good for them to live on it, as they can also get food there.
So, their colonies move to this plant from soil mounds because there is nothing better than living in such a place where they can get both food and shelter. They do not have to walk long distances to forage.
Moist soil in the pot
They get attracted to moist places because they have to keep themselves hydrated to avoid drying their exoskeleton. The moisture in the soil provides a damp place for ants.
They move deeper into the moist soil as it is easy to displace soil particles when wet. They get closer to the plant’s roots and live there until they feel comfortable.
Search for dead insects
The dead insects in the pot of plants entice ants to come and enjoy the feast because they are good scavengers. They feed on dead carcasses of animals and reach dead aphids and mealy bugs.
Commonly, ants reach there if other living and dead insects are present on it; otherwise, they avoid visiting an Aloe Vera plant.
Do ants cause damage to Aloe Vera plants?
Ants can damage Aloe Vera plants, but they are not responsible for causing direct damage. They rarely chew leaves to destroy their intact structure but favor the growth of plant pests.
These pests feed on the sap, making nutrients unavailable for the plant itself. Accordingly, lack of nutrients affects its color, strength, and lifespan.
The infected plants cannot survive long because insects feed on the essential elements required to grow and resist the damage. The red imported fire ants commonly attack these plants.
Moreover, argentine ants also get inside roots to raise their colonies and grow in size. They usually spend their winter within the pot’s soil and rely on juicy cores for food.
How do I get rid of ants in my Aloe Vera plant?
You can get rid of ants from an Aloe Vera plant by employing methods that involve natural home remedies, like Vaseline, lemon, and vinegar.
Similarly, some preventive measures can also help avoid future infestation when you create barriers to keep them at a distance.
Wash the pot and roots
Avoid dirt accumulation on the outer surface of the pot and clean water spills around it to make it less attractive for ants. However, you can wash the pot thoroughly by removing plants and soil.
It can help remove pests from the pot when their number increases significantly. Remove the soil and wash the pot with soapy water that helps remove pheromone trails.
After that, sift the soil with a strainer to remove small insects and make the soil free of pests. It is essential to wash the roots of the Aloe Vera plant as these insects are usually present in the roots.
Shift the soil back into the pot and put the plant within it. This method can help get rid of the current infestation, but you have to find another preventive method to control future problems.
Apply Vaseline on the pot’s rim
They find it hard to maintain balance on surfaces covered with petroleum jelly or Vaseline. They cannot walk on it due to the greasy and sticky nature of the Vaseline.
Accordingly, you can apply it on the pot’s rim to avoid ant attack or cover the bottom of the pot with it. This way, the plant remains safe from these insects having sticky feet.
Create a water moat
It is one of the effective methods to get rid of ants because they are not good at swimming through water. Put a large bowl or shallow plate under the pot to create a barrier for them.
Fill it with water and stop ants from getting inside the pot. There is a risk of drowning in water after remaining suspended in the pot for a long. So, they avoid it and stay away from the Aloe Vera plant.
Use sugar poison
Sugar poison kills ants because it contains toxic ingredients mixed in the icing sugar. Mix baking soda with the powdered sugar to prepare bait for these tiny creatures.
They cannot distinguish between white sugar and baking soda and get attracted to it. This consumption of sugar poison is fatal for ants as they cannot deal with the baking soda.
It reacts with acidic fluid in their stomach, resulting in an explosion of bodies. It is a quick removal method because these insects die in only a few minutes of consumption.
Use repelling substances
Lemon is an effective deterrent to ants because they do not like citrus odors. You can spray lemon juice on the plant’s surface to cause discomfort for them.
Spread fresh lemon peels around the plant’s surface or within the pot, as it also works against ants. Orange and cucumber peels are also suitable to use for repelling these insects.
In addition, vinegar can also repel them that rely on their pheromone secretions to forage and coordinate activities. Spray vinegar solution around the plant to avoid damage to leaves.
Related Articles:
