Author Topic: Ants-Keep Away Solutions (Read 19417 times)

keeperofthebees · « **on:** February 09, 2014, 03:40:21 am »

What do you guys do to keep the ants away from the hives? Up here in the midwest, carpenter ants are pretty obnoxious. Cinnamon powder is supposed to work.

kebee · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2014, 05:44:36 am »

I have used oil in pans and grease on hive stands both work for a while, I now use the dry ant killer and it seem to work the best and have had no problem with it affecting the bees.

Ken

apisbees · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2014, 06:40:37 am »

Can with water of oil for each hive stand leg. Keep the grass down cause a few blades pf grass is all the bridge they need.

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:21:22 am »

Quote from: kebee on February 09, 2014, 05:44:36 am

I have used oil in pans and grease on hive stands both work for a while, I now use the dry ant killer and it seem to work the best and have had no problem with it affecting the bees.

Ken

You guys have those biting little fire ants, like in Georgia I'm guessing..Right?

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:23:03 am »

Quote from: apisbees on February 09, 2014, 06:40:37 am

Can with water of oil for each hive stand leg. Keep the grass down cause a few blades pf grass is all the bridge they need.

Do you ever tangle with carbolineum on the bottoms of the pallets/runner boards?

Perry · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:26:18 am »

I just put a ring of cinnamon around any hives that seem to have a problem. Ants aren't too much of a problem here. If the bees can't access an area in the hive, like if I have the inner cover hole blocked off for some reason, they'll quickly set up shop. Then all I do is allow the bees back up there and they take care of it.

Edward · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2014, 02:46:11 pm »

The forest ants can overrun a hive in a day or two in early spring

:'(

The ants pissed their acid on us when I shook them out of the boxes.

We use building plastic that hangs in the air, the ants don't walk around the knifes edge of the plastic.

mvh Edward

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2014, 03:20:43 pm »

Quote from: Edward on February 09, 2014, 02:46:11 pm

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The forest ants can overrun a hive in a day or two in early spring :'(

The ants pissed their acid on us when I shook them out of the boxes.

We use building plastic that hangs in the air, the ants don't walk around the knifes edge of the plastic.

mvh Edward

You'd think the freeze up there would kill them off?

Edward · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2014, 03:56:31 pm »

Sadly most of an ant hill is underground at frost free depths

1-2 meters

mvh Edward

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2014, 04:03:29 pm »

Quote from: Edward on February 09, 2014, 03:56:31 pm

Sadly most of an ant hill is underground at frost free depths 1-2 meters

mvh Edward

Will they eat everything? Fire ants eat hive beetle larva.

Edward · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2014, 04:24:39 pm »

eggs, then larvae and pupae later even bees

mvh Edward

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2014, 04:43:57 pm »

Those have to be some mean ants Edward, Ants on the inner cover is one reason i went to migratory covers, not had any trouble with them since. Jack

tefer2 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2014, 05:13:26 pm »

We use boric acid mixed with cheap grape jelly and water.
Small margarine container with snap on lid.
Punch small holes around top edge of container ( big enough for ants to crawl through ).
Snap on lid and place near hives.
Ants take feed back to nest and feed queen.
Cinnamon works at times, buts needs to be reapplied after rain.

Perry · « **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2014, 06:13:50 pm »

Man, I hope I can fall asleep tonight after seeing that!

What about just pouring gasoline in it?

tefer2 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2014, 06:23:54 pm »

Boric acid is an ingredient in eye wash so it's not that toxic Perry.

Your mom probably washed your cloths in 20 mule team Borax laundry detergent.
Boric acid is also used in suppositories and yeast infections.

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:30:01 pm »

Quote from: tefer2 on February 09, 2014, 06:23:54 pm

Boric acid is an ingredient in eye wash so it's not that toxic Perry.
Your mom probably washed your cloths in 20 mule team Borax laundry detergent.
Boric acid is also used in suppositories and yeast infections.

What about tucking little dishes under the problem hives/next to the ants?... Top it off once in awhile....

iddee · « **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:42:19 pm »

You mix jelly, sugar, or something sweet with it to get the ants to take it. It has to be where the bees can't get to it.

keeperofthebees · « **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:49:15 pm »

Quote from: iddee on February 09, 2014, 10:42:19 pm

You mix jelly, sugar, or something sweet with it to get the ants to take it. It has to be where the bees can't get to it.

A deep on the ground around it with a telescoping lid over it. You know the ants will find their way in then.

tefer2 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:54:28 pm »

Make holes in container ant size, to small for bees to enter.
Place away from hives, on a ant traffic trail!

I've not had many problems with foragers. Could be the boric acid smell keeps them away.

CpnObvious · « **Reply #19 on:** May 16, 2014, 09:19:17 am »

I am beginning to have concerns about tiny little ants near where one of my hives is going. I was thinking about making little "shelves" around each leg and putting either a layer or bead of grease under it, using the "shelf" to keep water from running over it every time it rains. Please see my mad MSPaint skilz. The grease is represented in RED.

[img width= height= alt=150000/greasedstand-149406.jpg" border="0]http://postimg.com/thumbs/150000/greasedstand-149406.jpg[/img]

Also, my stands will be sitting on a bed of 3/4" crushed stone. I was also thinking about occasionally sprinkling ground cinamon over the rocks.

What do y'all think?