I started my gardening journey this spring by building raised garden beds and filling them with amended soil in hopes that my vegetable bounty would be abundant.
I took great care to choose a spot with optimal sunlight, great drainage and easy access. I lovingly deposited my seedling transplants into the ground with a parental desire for my babies to flourish, and flourish they did.
All of my plants were growing wonderfully. I took such joy in my daily visits to my garden to see how the “kids” were doing. Growing strong and tall and so quickly at that.
#placement_588479_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}
So the day I visited, and my green peppers were stripped completely of leaves, I was crushed.
Was it a deer? Was it a rabbit? Surely my security camera would reveal the truth, but nothing.
Then came all the carrot tops. What was happening to my precious babies? And then I saw it — ants! Ants were eating my vegetables. Could it be? I followed them. They were all in a line, marching with my kidnapped carrot tops disappearing down the small hole.
@import url(https://fonts.bunny.net/css?family=ibm-plex-sans:400,600);
#_form_11_ { font-size:14px; line-height:1.6; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; margin:0; }
#_form_11_ * { outline:0; }
._form_hide { display:none; visibility:hidden; }
._form_show { display:block; visibility:visible; }
#_form_11_._form-top { top:0; }
#_form_11_._form-bottom { bottom:0; }
#_form_11_._form-left { left:0; }
#_form_11_._form-right { right:0; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”text”],#_form_11_ input[type=”tel”],#_form_11_ input[type=”date”],#_form_11_ textarea { padding:6px; height:auto; border:#979797 1px solid; border-radius:4px; color:#000 !important; font-size:14px; -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; }
#_form_11_ textarea { resize:none; }
#_form_11_ ._submit { -webkit-appearance:none; cursor:pointer; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-size:14px; text-align:center; background:#004cff !important; border:0 !important; -moz-border-radius:4px !important; -webkit-border-radius:4px !important; border-radius:4px !important; color:#fff !important; padding:10px !important; }
#_form_11_ ._submit:disabled { cursor:not-allowed; opacity:0.4; }
#_form_11_ ._submit.processing { position:relative; }
#_form_11_ ._submit.processing::before { content:”; width:1em; height:1em; position:absolute; z-index:1; top:50%; left:50%; border:double 3px transparent; border-radius:50%; background-image:linear-gradient(#004cff, #004cff), conic-gradient(#004cff, #fff); background-origin:border-box; background-clip:content-box, border-box; animation:1200ms ease 0s infinite normal none running _spin; }
#_form_11_ ._submit.processing::after { content:”; position:absolute; top:0; bottom:0; left:0; right:0; background:#004cff !important; border:0 !important; -moz-border-radius:4px !important; -webkit-border-radius:4px !important; border-radius:4px !important; color:#fff !important; padding:10px !important; }
@keyframes _spin { 0% { transform:translate(-50%, -50%) rotate(90deg); }
100% { transform:translate(-50%, -50%) rotate(450deg); }
}
#_form_11_ ._close-icon { cursor:pointer; background-image:url(‘https://d226aj4ao1t61q.cloudfront.net/esfkyjh1u_forms-close-dark.png’); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-size:14.2px 14.2px; position:absolute; display:block; top:11px; right:9px; overflow:hidden; width:16.2px; height:16.2px; }
#_form_11_ ._close-icon:before { position:relative; }
#_form_11_ ._form-body { margin-bottom:30px; }
#_form_11_ ._form-image-left { width:150px; float:left; }
#_form_11_ ._form-content-right { margin-left:164px; }
#_form_11_ ._form-branding { color:#fff; font-size:10px; clear:both; text-align:left; margin-top:30px; font-weight:100; }
#_form_11_ ._form-branding ._logo { display:block; width:130px; height:14px; margin-top:6px; background-image:url(‘https://d226aj4ao1t61q.cloudfront.net/hh9ujqgv5_aclogo_li.png’); background-size:130px auto; background-repeat:no-repeat; }
#_form_11_ .form-sr-only { position:absolute; width:1px; height:1px; padding:0; margin:-1px; overflow:hidden; clip:rect(0, 0, 0, 0); border:0; }
#_form_11_ ._form-label,#_form_11_ ._form_element ._form-label { font-weight:bold; margin-bottom:5px; display:block; }
#_form_11_._dark ._form-branding { color:#333; }
#_form_11_._dark ._form-branding ._logo { background-image:url(‘https://d226aj4ao1t61q.cloudfront.net/jftq2c8s_aclogo_dk.png’); }
#_form_11_ ._form_element { position:relative; margin-bottom:10px; font-size:0; max-width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element * { font-size:14px; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element._clear { clear:both; width:100%; float:none; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element._clear:after { clear:left; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element input[type=”text”],#_form_11_ ._form_element input[type=”date”],#_form_11_ ._form_element select,#_form_11_ ._form_element textarea:not(.g-recaptcha-response) { display:block; width:100%; -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; font-family:inherit; }
#_form_11_ ._field-wrapper { position:relative; }
#_form_11_ ._inline-style { float:left; }
#_form_11_ ._inline-style input[type=”text”] { width:150px; }
#_form_11_ ._inline-style:not(._clear) + ._inline-style:not(._clear) { margin-left:20px; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element img._form-image { max-width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element ._form-fieldset { border:0; padding:0.01em 0 0 0; margin:0; min-width:0; }
#_form_11_ ._clear-element { clear:left; }
#_form_11_ ._full_width { width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._form_full_field { display:block; width:100%; margin-bottom:10px; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”text”]._has_error,#_form_11_ textarea._has_error { border:#f37c7b 1px solid; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”checkbox”]._has_error { outline:#f37c7b 1px solid; }
#_form_11_ ._error { display:block; position:absolute; font-size:14px; z-index:10000001; }
#_form_11_ ._error._above { padding-bottom:4px; bottom:39px; right:0; }
#_form_11_ ._error._below { padding-top:8px; top:100%; right:0; }
#_form_11_ ._error._above ._error-arrow { bottom:-4px; right:15px; border-left:8px solid transparent; border-right:8px solid transparent; border-top:8px solid #fdd; }
#_form_11_ ._error._below ._error-arrow { top:0; right:15px; border-left:8px solid transparent; border-right:8px solid transparent; border-bottom:8px solid #fdd; }
#_form_11_ ._error-inner { padding:12px 12px 12px 36px; background-color:#fdd; background-image:url(“data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg width=’16’ height=’16’ viewBox=’0 0 16 16′ fill=’none’ xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’%3E%3Cpath fill-rule=’evenodd’ clip-rule=’evenodd’ d=’M16 8C16 12.4183 12.4183 16 8 16C3.58172 16 0 12.4183 0 8C0 3.58172 3.58172 0 8 0C12.4183 0 16 3.58172 16 8ZM9 3V9H7V3H9ZM9 13V11H7V13H9Z’ fill=’%23CA0000’/%3E%3C/svg%3E”); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:12px center; font-size:14px; font-family:arial, sans-serif; font-weight:600; line-height:16px; color:#000; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; -webkit-border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; border-radius:4px; box-shadow:0px 1px 4px rgba(31, 33, 41, 0.298295); }
#_form_11_ ._error-inner._form_error { margin-bottom:5px; text-align:left; }
#_form_11_ ._button-wrapper ._error-inner._form_error { position:static; }
#_form_11_ ._error-inner._no_arrow { margin-bottom:10px; }
#_form_11_ ._error-arrow { position:absolute; width:0; height:0; }
#_form_11_ ._error-html { margin-bottom:10px; }
.pika-single { z-index:10000001 !important; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”text”].datetime_date { width:69%; display:inline; }
#_form_11_ select.datetime_time { width:29%; display:inline; height:32px; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”date”].datetime_date { width:69%; display:inline-flex; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”time”].datetime_time { width:29%; display:inline-flex; }
@media all and (min-width:320px) and (max-width:667px) { ::-webkit-scrollbar { display:none; }
#_form_11_ { margin:0; width:100%; min-width:100%; max-width:100%; box-sizing:border-box; }
#_form_11_ * { -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; font-size:1em; }
#_form_11_ ._form-content { margin:0; width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._form-inner { display:block; min-width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._form-title,#_form_11_ ._inline-style { margin-top:0; margin-right:0; margin-left:0; }
#_form_11_ ._form-title { font-size:1.2em; }
#_form_11_ ._form_element { margin:0 0 20px; padding:0; width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._form-element,#_form_11_ ._inline-style,#_form_11_ input[type=”text”],#_form_11_ label,#_form_11_ p,#_form_11_ textarea:not(.g-recaptcha-response) { float:none; display:block; width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._row._checkbox-radio label { display:inline; }
#_form_11_ ._row,#_form_11_ p,#_form_11_ label { margin-bottom:0.7em; width:100%; }
#_form_11_ ._row input[type=”checkbox”],#_form_11_ ._row input[type=”radio”] { margin:0 !important; vertical-align:middle !important; }
#_form_11_ ._row input[type=”checkbox”] + span label { display:inline; }
#_form_11_ ._row span label { margin:0 !important; width:initial !important; vertical-align:middle !important; }
#_form_11_ ._form-image { max-width:100%; height:auto !important; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”text”] { padding-left:10px; padding-right:10px; font-size:16px; line-height:1.3em; -webkit-appearance:none; }
#_form_11_ input[type=”radio”],#_form_11_ input[type=”checkbox”] { display:inline-block; width:1.3em; height:1.3em; font-size:1em; margin:0 0.3em 0 0; vertical-align:baseline; }
#_form_11_ button[type=”submit”] { padding:20px; font-size:1.5em; }
#_form_11_ ._inline-style { margin:20px 0 0 !important; }
}
#_form_11_ { position:relative; text-align:left; margin:25px auto 0; padding:20px; -webkit-box-sizing:border-box; -moz-box-sizing:border-box; box-sizing:border-box; *zoom:1; background:#fff !important; border:0px solid #b0b0b0 !important; max-width:500px; -moz-border-radius:0px !important; -webkit-border-radius:0px !important; border-radius:0px !important; color:#000 !important; }
#_form_11_ ._form-title { font-size:22px; line-height:22px; font-weight:600; margin-bottom:0; }
#_form_11_:before,#_form_11_:after { content:” “; display:table; }
#_form_11_:after { clear:both; }
#_form_11_._inline-style { width:auto; display:inline-block; }
#_form_11_._inline-style input[type=”text”],#_form_11_._inline-style input[type=”date”] { padding:10px 12px; }
#_form_11_._inline-style button._inline-style { position:relative; top:27px; }
#_form_11_._inline-style p { margin:0; }
#_form_11_._inline-style ._button-wrapper { position:relative; margin:27px 12.5px 0 20px; }
#_form_11_ ._form-thank-you { position:relative; left:0; right:0; text-align:center; font-size:18px; }
@media all and (min-width:320px) and (max-width:667px) { #_form_11_._inline-form._inline-style ._inline-style._button-wrapper { margin-top:20px !important; margin-left:0 !important; }
}
#_form_11_ .iti.iti–allow-dropdown.iti–separate-dial-code { width:100%; }
#_form_11_ .iti input { width:100%; height:32px; border:#979797 1px solid; border-radius:4px; }
#_form_11_ .iti–separate-dial-code .iti__selected-flag { background-color:#fff; border-radius:4px; }
#_form_11_ .iti–separate-dial-code .iti__selected-flag:hover { background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.05); }
#_form_11_ .iti__country-list { border-radius:4px; margin-top:4px; min-width:460px; }
#_form_11_ .iti__country-list–dropup { margin-bottom:4px; }
#_form_11_ .phone-error-hidden { display:none; }
#_form_11_ .phone-error { color:#e40e49; }
#_form_11_ .phone-input-error { border:1px solid #e40e49 !important; }
An immediate consultation with google suggested ants don’t eat carrots. Well I have proof they do google, so what do I do about it? Suggestions…borax mixed with honey to kill ants. Nope, they won’t touch it. Boiling water down the hole.
Bingo it worked — for an afternoon. As soon as they could regroup, attack again they did. A daily regimen of boiling water morning and night. It works but you have to stay up on it and keep looking for their new foraging holes.
Little did I know the truth about Texas Leaf Cutter Ants. They do not eat the leaves, they steal them. They take them in to their fungus gardens in the depths of their ant colonies and they use them to grow the food they need, fungus. The colonies can be millions of ants strong with multiple queens. Their colony can be up to 20 feet deep and span an entire acre of land.
How do I fight this? That’s a whole lot of boiling water. And during the spring the ants are easy to trace, you just follow them. In the summertime they fool you. They come out at night. It is too hot during the day so their thievery occurs in the dark of night. They are dastardly little buggers.
I decided I needed to consult with the experts at Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. One article suggests Orthene Dust and another Amdro Ant Block. Texas Forest Service suggests “1) organochlorines (aldrin, chlorodane, dieldrin, heptachlor) applied as liquids, dusts, or fogs; 2) fumigants (carbon disulfide, methyl bromide, and resmethrin); and 3) baits containing slow-acting toxicants (aldrin, mirex, hydramethylnon, and sulfluramid), which are retrieved and carried by the ants into their underground nests.”
