Hi everyone,

I noticed a colony of ants around the trunk of my newly planted(2 months) pear tree. I did not notice any ant climbing the tree or any damage in the leaves but I am afraid since they have their house right around the trunk of the tree maybe they'll damage it's roots or something. There are a lot of ants around and a lot of tiny white things which may be their larvae. There are other colonies of ants around my garden but since they are spread around I think they don't pose a threat for my plants. Should I be worried and should I act?
Attached here are some pics but since it's midday I think they might be having their siesta. Thank you in advance.

You haven't mentioned where you are or what kind of ants you have. Some ants can inadvertently kill your tree by making their runs close to the roots, cutting the roots or eating the roots. There are probably ants that just co-exist with roots and don't do any damage.

BTW: All the ants in your yard are part of the same colony. Ants from different colonies fight eachother to the death.

UrbanForest007
I understand your concern about your new pear tree.
I don`t much about ant problems but maybe a non chemical is what you are looking for.
Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the base, not on the trunk. It`s safe except for insects who`s abdomens are close to the ground.
Although safe, thoroughly read the products instructions.
Now to be a wet blanket. How large does that cultivar get? Is it a mini or dwarf?
It looks very close to the foundation of the building. I only bring this up `cause it will be easier to move while it`s still this size.
Do you know how to make Moc-Apple Pie using pears? I had a piece years ago, it was pretty good.

@Daisyl love the ant colony info, I think

Hi, I also have small black ants at my pear tree, and they DO climb up and eat into the pears. I can't spray anything because the pears are big already and spray must be apllied weeks before picking.
Also, I beg to differ about the different ant colonies fighting. I have the small black ants (0.5 - 1.0mm), medium size (1 - 2mm) brown ants, large (3 - 6mm) fast running ants, and termites all over my yard. The only stuff the nursary have to kill them, will kill ALL bugs and worms, so, not an option.
I stay in Vredenburg on the Westcoast of South Afrika.
There is also big (20 - 30mm) velvety black beetles that eat the pears.
If anybody can give advise, it would be apreciated.
Thank you.

yes, I had large black ants disturb the soil so badly over a period of time that they killed an established forsythia. If you have other ants in the yard, chances are they are from different colonies, once a colony gets very large, it breaks apart-they get their own queen-and start a new colony in another spot. So depending on how large your yard is, there can be multiple colonies. You can take a scoop of ants from one spot and dump them out on the other ants and they will fight and kill eachother. You can google this, there are some youtube videos of gardeners who did it.

Am guessing the Ants took advantage of freshly dug earth - happens to me all the time

But there may be another reason ants showed up -

Look over your pear tree leaves, especially the bottom of the leaves and any new growth - look for aphids -
aphids are tiny - little larger than the size of a pin head ...oval in shape ....and usually bright yellow but can be: black, brown, green or red

where there are aphids - there will be ants

ants are attracted to the "honeydew" that aphids secrete or discharge as they feed - honeydew is sticky to the touch - ants "harvest" & collect this honeydew - and take it back to the mound

usually aggressive ants will be docile while collecting honeydew

Control the aphids and you control the ants ..... any insecticidal soap (containing fatty acids) will work killing off aphids