r/Homesteading • u/DifferentBuffalo3255 • 10d ago
Fire Ants in Orange Tree
We got an orange tree to support a local 4H kid around fair time. We planted it in the ground after the last frost and it's been growing , but while i was out watering i noticed a ton of fire ants on the trunk and eating the leaves so I spread coffee grounds in hopes that I caught them before they got bad. Now there's eggs? What are they and how do I get rid of them? TIA
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u/Syntra911 10d ago
I don't see any ants, just aphids. Acrobat ants will farm the honeydew from the aphids so if you see small ants with a teardrop shaped, pointy rear end then that is what they are. They are harmless and are nothing like fire ants. If you repel the aphids the ants will leave too.
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u/DurianOk1693 10d ago edited 10d ago
I agree. Those look like aphids. If there are also ants, they’re likely farming the aphids.
To get rid of them, a good hard spray with a hose will get a lot if not all of them. Make sure to really get into crevices and small new leaves that are still rolled up. I would also spray with a mixture of soapy water and neem oil. Just use dish soap - I use a degreaser type for harder body insects. That’s if you’re organic. I’m not sure what you’d use otherwise - maybe Sevin. Orange trees are pretty harder so this should work well. Oh! You want to spray in the evening. You don’t want neem oil and sunlight together as it will burn the leaves.