Rose bushes have little red ants - is this an issue or do they just need sprayed for bugs?

This is a separate rose bush (in a different area of yard) from the rose bushes in my previous question (re: wax-like substance on rose bush)





Thanks!

Rose bushes have little red ants - is this an issue or do they just need sprayed for bugs?
Before you spray, you might want to try buying some ladybugs. They're available by the bag at most garden centers, and will very likely enjoy the meal of the little ants! Then, when they're done, they'll just fly away, and you're left with no residues.
Reply:I agree with several here, if they are truly ants then they are feeding on the aphid excretions called honeydew. Find the aphids up at the top clustered around buds, on blooms and upper leaves. They are green insects (aphids come in many different colors, but most on roses are green) with two "tail pipes" on their rear end.....you'll need magnifier glass to see that.





Spider mites are usually lower in the shrub, very, very hard to see as they are nearly microscopic.





OK, back to aphid control: you really don't need to go with heavy insecticides. Aphids are pretty easy to control. The insecticidal soaps work great and you can also make your own (with care!!) Really no more than 1/2 tsp liquid detergent to a half gallon of water. Problem with homemade stuff is liquid detergent can vary in intensity from batch to batch, it isn't controlled by law. So one batch may not burn the plant, the next batch may.





Actually just blasting the aphids off twice a day with a very strong stream of water works well too. They don't usually return to the plant. For that matter, the water treatment also works on red spider mites.
Reply:Use Sevin-5 dust on them... just follow the directions
Reply:likely not ants but red spider mites. very destrutive if left untreated. leaves start lookong "lacey" like chlorophylll has been sucked out..most mites are on bottom of leaves. use a miticide like Green Light Spider mit spray and be sure to spray under leaves, not just on top. Also be sure plants are fully hydrated befor applying any chemical.
Reply:If they're really ants, they're eating other bugs like aphids which harm your rose bush.


If they're really spider mites, then you need to spray your rosebush because they will chew into the soft tissues of the plant and suck out the juices.
Reply:First of all, make sure they are Ants and not spider mites.





Unlike one user suggested, Aphids are not red, they are green. BUT-if you really have ants, you likely have aphids because ants are attracted to the sweet secretions of aphids. Aphids can be hard to see, but if you look on the new growth and unopened buds, you will see a bunch of little green things which are hard to distiguish from the buds...get out a magnifying glass. When you poke them, they will either fall off or move.


Spider mites also suck the juices out of plants, but they are tell tale from the weblike clusters they leave on new growth.





Here's my solution: Get some Bayer systemic granules for insects. Work the recommended amount in the soil (should be 1 lid full per rose, I've used it and it works wonders).





This stuff is going to take a week to kick in so everyday for a week, you'll need to really hose off your roses to knock off the bugs. Aphids usually die right away once they are knocked to the ground because they need a constant source of food.





If you spray or use a Sevin Dust, it's tough to do the whole plant and you have to keep reapplying it. The Systemic Insecticide will last for about 6 weeks.


Good luck!
Reply:those are aphids. Go to any nursery or home center, and purchase an insecticed that will eradicate aphids. Note that the rose bush in question will probably need multiple applications. Be sure to apply on the underside of leaves.