Pesky Ants and Mealy worms - A Hawaiian Tragedy

[mschultz]

So I had my enclosure all set up (still waiting to get the Cham). It sits on my counter under a window, it had a nice big hibiscus, a few twigs running lengthwise, a long vine (fake) running throughout. My students ask me everyday if I have a chameleon in the enclosure yet. But the pet store is currently out, and I haven't seen any wild ones on Oahu yet....

This morning I come in and the hibiscus had bloomed and it was COVERED in ants! I immediately took it outside and dunked it in water to drown the ants. I didn't want them making a colony in the pot. Only when it was outside did I realize that the ants had brought Mealy worms INSIDE and put them on my plant!!! I'm so mad!!!

TLDR:
- Ants got in and brought Mealy worms with them!!!

This is what I did:
- Drowned pot and drained pot to ensure the ants don't form a colony in the soil.
- Washed the Mealy worms and surrounding leaves with rubbing alcohol.
- Removed any remaining visible ants and mealy worms.
- Moved the enclosure far from the window sill to prevent future ant invasions (no worries I have a UVB light)

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[Carlton]

So I had my enclosure all set up (still waiting to get the Cham). It sits on my counter under a window, it had a nice big hibiscus, a few twigs running lengthwise, a long vine (fake) running throughout. My students ask me everyday if I have a chameleon in the enclosure yet. But the pet store is currently out, and I haven't seen any wild ones on Oahu yet....

This morning I come in and the hibiscus had bloomed and it was COVERED in ants! I immediately took it outside and dunked it in water to drown the ants. I didn't want them making a colony in the pot. Only when it was outside did I realize that the ants had brought Mealy worms INSIDE and put them on my plant!!! I'm so mad!!!

TLDR:
- Ants got in and brought Mealy worms with them!!!

This is what I did:
- Drowned pot and drained pot to ensure the ants don't form a colony in the soil.
- Washed the Mealy worms and surrounding leaves with rubbing alcohol.
- Removed any remaining visible ants and mealy worms.
- Moved the enclosure far from the window sill to prevent future ant invasions (no worries I have a UVB light)

Thoughts? Suggestions?

That's one problem with using flowering plants in the cage...the nectar can attract ants. When you get the cage set up try putting it on some sort of table or stand. You can discourage ants by putting the legs of the stand in cups of water so the ants can't climb up the legs. And, distract them toward some sort of ant trap under the table.

I'm so lucky to live here!!!NO ants, fleas, ticks, or many other irritating bugs...just hoards of mosquitos in the summer!

 

[nick barta]

That's one problem with using flowering plants in the cage...the nectar can attract ants. When you get the cage set up try putting it on some sort of table or stand. You can discourage ants by putting the legs of the stand in cups of water so the ants can't climb up the legs. And, distract them toward some sort of ant trap under the table.

I'm so lucky to live here!!!NO ants, fleas, ticks, or many other irritating bugs...just hoards of mosquitos in the summer!

Yeah, but your mosquitos can carry away small children…


CHEERS!

Nick