Ok I see ants swarming in my Okra beds for ever. I don't see any particular damage to the plants. Web search shows me the following as pretty much the universal explanation: Aphids produce secretions/honeydew which ants love. My objection to that theory: There are very few aphids on the Okra, hardly to talk about. However, all my cucurbits are loaded with millions aphids of all ages. Yet, I don't see any ants going to the cucurbits. The other explanation I have seen is: they suck the juice at the base of the blooms. But I don't really see many ants on the blooms although I see a few aphids on the blooms. Any other explanation? How to get rid of them? Spraying them kills only the ants that are physically present there and get direct contact. For every ant killed this way, there are thousands more. Tracking the ant trails I don't see any accesible ant mounds. So, how do i get rid of them for good? Thanks.

Diatomaceous earth is the best organic way to reduce the ant population in your garden. Since I have a large acreage I don't mind if they build their nests away from my garden but won't tolerate them near my house and garden. I sprinkle diatomaceous earth on every ant hill I see and there is no more activity within a couple of days. Of course more ants move in and set up more hills so it's necessary to be constantly vigilant. Use food grade diatomaceous earth and don't breath in the dust. If I didn't use DE I'd be over-run with ants. Aphids are easy to deal with by using a spray of water or Safers Soap spray. It's not only stressed plants that aphids will be found on, some years they are on some of my roses but leave the other nearby roses alone for an unknown reason.

ants MILK aphids for honeydew.. on the leaves.. not in the soil ... [and actually.. they sweat it.. and the ants eat it .. its a sugar source meaning they really dont have little milking stools..e tc.. lol] the words used also also include herding ... i am sure.. you probably also saw farming them.. but no.. they dont plant them in the ground... lol in fact.. ants.. are how i usually find aphid infested plants ... when i notice a plethora of marchers going up and down plants ... if you disturb an any colony ... and presuming you dont have any of the southern bad ants... they will be gone in hours... and you move on with life... when i run across this.. i just do a little more disturbing.. and come back in a day or two.. and finish whatever i was trying to accomplish ... its not really a situation.. where i feel i need to eradicate them ... [unless they are coming in the house.. then its all out warfare ....] ken

Aphids can be a problem but they are fairly easily controlled with a sharp spray of water to knock them off the plants they are on. The Ants are not that much of a problem and usually do not require control unless they are coming in the house. Here is a link that might be useful: Aphid control