Dollar Spot or Ants?

There are few reports of queen ants causing small dead spots in greens through the northeast.  The spots look like the initial stages of dollar spot.  This is the time (around Labor Day) that several species of ants swarm.  Conditions favorable for ant swarms are warm evenings following a rain.  The large swarming ants are queen ants (not termites they swarm in the spring).  Damage occurs when a recent surface insecticide application has been made followed by the ant swarm.  The queens’ land on the greens and come into contact with the insecticide and upon death release the substance formic acid, which causes the small dead spot.  There is not much one can do, especially if a surface insecticide has been applied.  The good news is the swarm should end in a week or two.

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