I Have Ants On Some New Shoots On My Philadelphus. Are They Bad?

Question

I have never noticed this before and the ants are only on some of the new growth. There is a peony next to this plant which has finished flowering. If the ants are bad, how do I get rid of them, please.?

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Answer 1

Are the ants huge or is that scale on the stems? Ants usually appear on plants that have insects such as scale or aphids, both of which exude honeydew, which ants love. To get rid of the ants, you need to get rid of the insects. Honeydew can also cause sooty mold. Here is more:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/controlling-aphids-and-ants.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/control-plant-scale.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-is-honeydew.htm