The picture says it all. They strip a complete tree in a day of all its leaves. Can't blame them, because they use the leaves to make their own food, but they do attack my fig tree, roses, hibiscus, etc., and I would try anything to stop them, preferably a natural solution.
The natives' strategy is to track them back to their home, pour petrol down the nest and set it on fire. I'm neither keen on pouring petrol into nature, nor on spraying my plants with heavy chemicals (which does work, I am told). Besides, the nest is not on my property. Is there anything I can do to protect my plants and get rid of the ants?
They seem to cut the leaves and then collect them at the bottom of the tree. Are there any physical barriers that one could try, which might be too difficult to overcome whilst carrying the leaf?
Do ants avoid plants with strong smell?