By Emilymoon
Hampshire,
United Kingdom 
Ants on my Kilmarnock Willow pendula
I've looked really closely to see if there are any other beasties the ants might have been cleaning up after but can't see anything at all
The tree is about 1.2m tall and just bursting open leaves now
I'm not fussed about the ants as long as they won't cause any problems.. any advice?
New to the website.. hello!
28 Mar, 2017
Answers
Thank you! ?
28 Mar, 2017
Yes I think so too. welcome to GoY too :o)
28 Mar, 2017
If they carry on going up and down the tree after the nectar has finished then look for aphids which the ants 'farm' for their honeydew (greenfly wee!).
29 Mar, 2017
Oldb honeydew will never be the same again....
29 Mar, 2017
The pressure of the sap in the plant pushes it straight through the insect....in one end and out the other.
29 Mar, 2017
Brilliant thank you, will keep a keen eye on it!
30 Mar, 2017
Sounds a bit like trying to feed teenage lads...
30 Mar, 2017
If the willow buds are beginning to burst, then the ants would be climbing the stems to collect the nectar from the emerging catkins.
28 Mar, 2017