Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener: What are those ants doing to my cow peas?, 2 by MaypopLaurel

MaypopLaurel wrote:
Zilly has pointed you in the right direction. I grow eight or more varieties of cranberry beans, limas, cowpeas and relatives such as yard longs every year. The extra floral nectaries initially attract lots wasps, especially yellow jackets, as well as big black ants. The wasps leave as the flowers dwindle but the ants stay and feed right where the peas join the stem making picking a challenge. Pick by twisting or cutting just at the base of the pea because a second set of peas can set at that growing tip. And you must know that dance we do when picking peas and shaking our arms to get rid of those frantic ants!