| I have noticed very small black ants deep inside my cucumber blooms as well as 'running' over my tomato plants and was very curious to know if they are detrimental to the cuke blooms and plants. Thank you very much! |
| Ants are usually considered beneficial in the garden because they cart away all sorts of debris, including insect eggs. I suspect the ants are gathering nectar from the cucumber blossoms. They won't hurt the plants, and may even help with the pollination process by transporting pollen from flower to flower. Ants often "tend" aphids, so check your plants over carefully for aphid colonies. Again, the ants are after a sweet meal and will protect aphids from predators in order to collect the honeydew they excrete. Healthy gardens are brimming with all kinds activity! |
