Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[DrTeeth]

I've looked at some of the past topics but want to reset the issue here. There is a colony of fire ants who will not leave one of my hives alone. They are constantly trying to build their mound onto the cinderblocks I have supporting the hive.

I've tried cinnamon but it hasn't worked. Others suggested diatomaceous earth, but some said it might hurt the bees as well. I was recommended vinegar by a local guy as a means of getting rid of the mound, but he wasn't sure if it would hurt the bees.

Thoughts?

[AugustC]

? move the hive.

Put the hive legs in bean cans and fill them with oil so the ants can't get across.

Applying orange oil to the top bars might work.

Two top bar hive keepers who blog and have had trouble with ants in the last year are Julie at Happy Hour at the Top bar hive

http://happyhourtopbar.blogspot.co.uk/

and Che Guebee

http://cheguebeeapiary.blogspot.co.uk/

maybe have a look at their blogs. Best of luck.

[R Payne]

The way diatomaceous earth (or talc) works is to get into the joints of an insect and wear the exoskeleton away (ultimately dehydrating the insect). So in order for diatomaceous earth to harm the bees, they's have to physically contact it. If you spread it on the ground under the hive it shouldn't have a negative effect on the bees.

[dowens]

I had a similar problem. And I moved the hive for some time and I killed the ants with Raid. Waited until it was safe for bees and moved the hive back to its original place. The bees were fine. I didn’t see any change in their number or in the quality of honey.

[jorgen]

I don’t think using chemicals this strong is healthy for bees and plants. I don’t want to be rude or something but I don’t think you should kill ants with means that could also harm your bees. I’m glad yours are well but I would be too afraid to risk it.