Pomegranate trees are attractive to ants.
Pomegranate is historically one of the earliest cultivated fruits. The plant is sometimes prone to ant infestations. Some species of ant tend to cluster at the base of the fruit, while leaf-cutter ants feed on the pomegranate's foliage.
Description
Pomegranate is a small tree or shrub that grows to a height of 20 to 30 feet. It is multibranched and spiny. The leaves are evergreen, opposite on the stem, and grow in whorls of 5 or 6. Pomegranate blooms with showy flowers 1 1/4-inches long that have a red calyx -- the outer whorl of the flower comprising the sepals -- and red, white or variegated petals. The fruit is 2 1/2 to 5 inches wide, with a leathery, yellowish-red rind.
Causes and Common Ant Species
Unharvested pomegranate fruit can attract ants. Pomegranate plants infested with insects, such as aphids and mealybugs, that produce honeydew are prone to ants that harvest the insect's secretions. Species of ants commonly found on pomegranate trees include the gray field ant (Formica aerata), the Argentine ant (Iridomyrmex humulis) and the Texas leaf-cutter ant (Atta texana).
Control
Controls include applying insecticides to manage insect populations that attract ants, harvesting pomegranate fruit when it is ripe, and using protective wrapping or fruit bags on the pomegranate once the fruit is set.
Tags: ants Pomegranate, attract ants, pomegranate fruit
