Ants eating zucchini flowers?

10 years ago

So I understand that ants are mostly beneficial for the garden, but lately I have noticed that the ants are eating the bottom of my zucchini flowers. Basically, the second the female flower closes it falls off because the bottom was eaten out. So I don't think they are getting pollinated, even though I hand pollinate, because they are falling off so quickly. I know that the flower falling off is normal, but it is happening so quickly.

Anything I can do? Or does anyone else have this problem?

Featured Answer

danzeb

10 years ago

Some ants do eat pollen. They are eating the pollen of my male zucchini flowers. I've put down ant traps but they are not interested in them. I need a way to get rid of the ants without insecticides that with kill bees.

Comments (8)

seysonn
10 years ago
That's ok. Ants just like bees, butterflies ... visit flowers for the nectar in them and in the process might even pollinate some.JMO
Newatthis22
Original Author
10 years ago
Yeah, thats why I havent been to concerned up to this point. Is it normal for them to eat through the base of the flower though? The flowers seem to drop off much more quickly than the ones that aren't affected by ants, and the ones that the ants are chewing through seem to not even pollinate which then the baby zucchini turns yellow and falls off.

How long to the flowers need (after they close up and start 'processing' the pollen) to go into the fruit and start growing?
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digdirt2
10 years ago
The flowers seem to drop off much more quickly than the ones that aren't affected by ants,

It just "seems" that way. The blooms, once they open, only last a few hours anyway. Any pollination issues are caused by air temps and the lack of pollinators or hand pollination, not the ants. Check out the FAQ here on Blossom Drop.

How long to the flowers need (after they close up and start 'processing' the pollen) to go into the fruit and start growing?

Actual pollination is essentially instantly. Noticeable growth in the fruit however takes 48-72 hours.

Dave
Newatthis22
Original Author
10 years ago
Ah okay, the instantly word is the exact one that I wanted! Thank you for the ease of mind!
bryandrake
8 years ago
Diatomacious earth powder works well and safely. The ants don't eat it but when they contact it they dehydrate. It also works for slugs that like to eat the stems of small plants. I put it around the base of my cucumber plants until the stems harden.
tcstoehr
8 years ago
Do not assume the ants are not at fault. They may or may not be. I agree that they are attracted by the sweet nectar, but they may do some severe damage at the same time. People will insist that ants are never a problem until it happens to them. Monitor the blossoms that are visited by ants and those that are not. If the anty blossoms fail to set and the antless ones succeed, I would suspect the ants are causing an issue with their chewing. Otherwise it's a non-issue.

Danzeb, did you take that picture in your garden? What is that ant doing? What is it carrying away?
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
Are you in a location where fire ants are a common nuisance in the garden? They will chew through nectaries to get to the good stuff.