It's obvious to me that the people who claim ants do not kill trees have absolutely no experience with fire ants or any knowledge of them....I've noticed they are all from more northern states than Florida. Yes, certain ants will kill trees. Fire ants kill trees and shrubs. They are a horrible scourage here and were imported from Brazil in the early 1900's into Pensacola via cargo ships. They are one of the most miserable creatures on earth, and a prime example of how careless importation of foreign species is so disruptive to another area. In Brazil there is a fly that keeps the fire ants in check there, and then other birds and animals that keep the flies in check, and so on. Here, our native species do not know what to do with them, and they have flourished and gotten out of control. This is all information given to me by our local extension office. They have become so bad since the last tropical storm on our property, (and other properties in our area that did not flood), that I can't garden or walk to my clotheslines without being bitten. The bites are horrible. They burn, sting, and itch all at the same time, and then the bite forms a nasty pustule. Imagine having 50 bites. Imagine a tree or shrub dealing with them. We are having our farmer's co-op come to treat our whole 10 acres. They are not just present at the mounds. They scout all over the place. Our property did not flood, unlike many unlucky people in my area, so the fire ants have migrated to properties that stayed dry. They literall float mounds of themselves on top of flooded areas. I saw it with my own eyes. They have killed 7 rose bushes on fortuniana root stock, 5 citrus trees, and several of my native holly trees so far since the storm. They eat the roots and they bore up into the trunks of the trees. Once established into and near the trees they are almost impossible to get rid of. I've tried everything, including drenches. I am going to have my husband pull them with the tractor and burn them. Since the roots are so damaged I could actually easily remove them with a shovel, but I won't go near them any more. In addition to all of this it appears that they have displaced many of our native ants, who do not bite, and whom are important to the balance of our ecology. They've even appeared to have eaten all our earthworms. I can't find any in my composted areas. So, unfortunately, we have to "nuke" our whole property and then try to introduce the beneficials back in. So yes, ants may have killed the original poster's tree.

Found a homemade Horticultural Glue recipe on an Australian forum. I have not tried it yet. I cannot buy Horticultural Glue on the island - just not available. If anyone knows about using axle grease on the trunk of trees, can you please let me know if I can put the grease directly on the bark? Homemade Horticultural Glue Recipe Basic Waterproof Glue 6 tbsp water 2 packets unflavored gelatin (1/2 oz.) 2 tbsp white vinegar 2 tsp glycerine Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in gelatin until it is dissolved. Add vinegar and glycerin and stir well. Let the mixture cool slightly and pour into a jar and seal tightly. To Use: This glue is best applied while warm. Apply to surfaces using a brush. Glue will gel after a few days. To re-use, warm by placing the jar in a pan of hot water. I think that the rain will just wash this away in no time at all. But I will try it once the dry season has started.

When you pulled up the plants, if the roots looked like they had knots on them, you had nematodes and the ants were after them. You wouldn't notice nematodes b/c they are all but microscopic. All you would have been able to see would be the result of their damage to the root system and the resulting damage to the plant.

I've read about ants making nests in the roots of a tomato plant, with the result being a dead plant. I think the problem is that they remove enough soil that the roots dry out. Here are some home remedies which shouldn't affect the tomatoes: = Sprinkle diatomaceous earth (DE) in a ring around the nest. When ants walk through this, it pierces their exoskeletons and they will die. [DE is a rough white powder, the fossilized skeletons of diatoms, a type of algae. It is sold in some garden centers. You could also try agricultural supply places or stores that feature organic foods and other natural products.] = Mix 1 cake of yeast with 1/3 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of molasses. Put it in low lids near the ant nest. Ants love sweets and will take it back to the nest; the yeast will expand inside their bodies and kill them. [Freeze whatever you don't use.] = Crush grains of white rice with a mortar and pestle. Sprinkle it around the anthill. The ants will take it inside the nest. It will expand inside their bodies and kill them. (Some people use grits instead of rice. Powdered tapioca should work too.) = Mix 1 part sugar with 2 parts borax. Add enough water to make a gel. Put this bait on squares of cardboard or low plastic or metal lids (low enough that ants can enter and leave easily; you can also raise the dirt around the sides of the lid to make a ramp). The ants will take this back to the nest and they will all die. [Too much borax isn't good for tomatoes, so don't use a lot of this in the garden.]