How Do Ants Open Up Peonies?
WouterDuring peony season, it’s not uncommon to see ants buzzing around the flower. While the peony flower may look like it’s being attacked by a horde of ants, they are actually quite harmless.
The most obvious reason ants are spotted on peonies is because they are attracted to the flower’s nectar. The plant makes nectar for the ants by secreting a sugary substance around the sepal.
The sugary juice is a great source of food for ants. When an ant is in the peony, it releases a pheromone to alert other ants of its presence. Using this pheromone, ants follow the trail back to the food source.
Peonies are also known to be quite fragrant. In fact, they are considered part of the myrmecophytes family of plants. The name myrmecophytes comes from the French, which means “ant plant.”
While ants may be a nuisance, there’s no reason why you can’t harvest your peonies without harming them. Ants can be removed with soap and water. You can also apply insecticidal soap spray to kill ants. However, you should make sure that you use insecticidal soap spray specifically designed for ants.
The best way to remove ants from your peony is to isolate them. A good way to do this is to place them in a container of water. The ants will then float out of the flower.
The best time to pick peonies is at the marshmallow bud stage. In this stage, the buds are soft when squeezed. It’s a good idea to place the peony in a vase of water to prevent the ants from locating the nectar.
