Sulphur Butterflies

Hi! I am new to this forum and what a great resource it is!

I have been raising butterflies for a number of years and have always done well with Sulphurs. I have a number of cassia trees currently in bloom.

This year I have had absolutely no sulphur caterpillars although the sulphurs visit and do lay eggs.

I do seem to have black ants on every portion of the tree but congregating especially in the flower buds. It is gross - if you squoosh the bud they come streaming out.

Are the black ants eating the caterpillars? And of course the impossible question - any way to get rid of the ants naturally if this is the case? Do sulphurs just have bad years?

I also have not had a single queen this year - any updates on that?

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