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  • From: Michael Morrissey <mmorrissey AT fastmail.fm>
  • To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] Ants
  • Date: Mon, 30 May 2016 20:26:22 -0400

I'm with Randall. I tried all kinds of things.
If you have a top feeder get some 1/2" weather stripping for the top edge. The ants still come but they can't get to the syrup.
 
--
Michael Morrissey
Durham, NC
919.236.3230
 
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On Mon, May 30, 2016, at 08:09 PM, Randall Austin wrote:
I often have ants coming and going between the underside of the metal sheeting and the telescoping cover. I ignore them. Works for me.
 
 
Ants
Ants are not usually serious pests in honey bee colonies.
Occasionally, however, certain species may enter colonies
to search for food or establish nesting sites. Ants
are typically found between the inner and outer covers of
the hive and in pollen traps. Although ants seldom disturb
the bees, they can be a nuisance to the beekeeper.
 
Ants are difficult to control once they are established
in a colony. To minimize ant problems, maintain
strong colonies and keep bottom boards raised off the
ground. Also, remove brush, rotten wood, grass, and
weeds from around the colonies. If ants are a persistent
problem, place single colonies on stands with
the legs in containers of oil or coated with a sticky
barrier. Allowing the bees access to the space between
the inner and outer covers may reduce ant problems
between the covers. Sometimes moving the colony a
short distance or placing colonies in the sun rather
than the shade will alleviate ant problems.
 
Randall
 
 
 
On 5/30/2016 6:50 PM, Joyce Bowden Kirby wrote:
6D86BF11-40F1-41A9-BF05-656DDBD7DA97 AT icloud.com">
Hi Phil,
 
I used cinnamon, bought four spice jars of it at Dollar General for $1 per plastic bottle, surrounded each leg of the stand with it, put vaseline up the legs for 4” to make it harder to climb up.  It worked to slow them down about *0%.  I mixed apple jelly with borax and spread it on small scraps of paper, turned down toward the ground so bees could not eat it, but ants could, put it right over the entrances to their homes, with a little stone to keep it from blowing over.  The ants are gone.
 
Best,
 
Joyce
 
 
On May 30, 2016, at 4:21 PM, Phil DeGuzman <phil.deguzman AT gmail.com> wrote:
 
It has been a few weeks since I checked in on my hives, so I took advantage of the sunny day today to check in. Both of my hives were invaded by ants. They were crawling up the back of the hives and into the inner cover. I didn't really see any in amongst the comb, but there were ants a plenty and what looked like ant grubs so I suspect they've been there a while longer than the bees would like. I ran the weed whacker all around the hives to make it less easy for the ants to climb up. Any advice on how to rid the colony of ants?
 
I have read about using cinnamon and also mint leaves. Not sure if these are folklore or tried and true. I also read something about borax solutions, but I am concerned that might affect the bees.
 
Appreciate any advice.
 
Phil
 
 
--
 
"There is nothing quite so useless, as doing with great efficiency, something that should not be done at all." ― Peter F. Drucker
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