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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 6:20 am Post subject: Ants |
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Does anyone know what I can do about ants?They weren't there last night,but this morning they are all over the hive.I have physically removed as many as possible,but they are sure to be back.What is a bee safe method os dealing with them? |
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trekmate Golden Bee

Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 1137 Location: UK, North Yorkshire, Bentham
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 7:02 am Post subject: |
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We need to know something of the hive type.
If it's raised on legs, sticky bands around the legs or place the legs in tubs of mineral oil. Make sure there are no plants that touch the hive as ants will find them and use them to access the hive still.
If the hive is on blocks, you can still isolate the hive in the same way, but it's much more complicated. Other may have better suggestions if this is the case. |
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Adam Rose Silver Bee
Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 589 Location: Manchester, UK
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:08 am Post subject: |
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Are you feeding your bees at the moment ? Often the main cause of ants in the hive is feeding sugar syrup. |
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AndyC Scout Bee
Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Posts: 304 Location: Uk/Horsham/RH13
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:10 am Post subject: |
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I see them on the outside but not inside my hives except when I have seperate feeders under the top.
Do the bees deal with them if they enter the hive? |
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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:49 am Post subject: |
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The hive is a layens,which I know is not brilliant,and I am hoping a warre is going to arrive this week for me to transfer them into.The hive is on blocks and I will try and isolate them now.I think the mistake I made was putting a wasp trap with some juice in it near the hive to get rid of some wasps.I am not feeding the bees because they are bringing in a lot of pollen at the moment.I was hoping not to inspect the hive again until I transfer them into their new hive.Thanks for all your prompt answers.I'm off now to see what I can set up.
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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:53 am Post subject: |
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Sorry Andyc,I didn't answer your question.I haven't seen any interaction between bee and ant.I think the ants are still trying to gain access. |
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Barbara Site Admin
Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Posts: 1857 Location: England/Co.Durham/Ebchester
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 9:16 am Post subject: |
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I had a problem with ants getting into a British National hive with a very small weak colony earlier in the year. They were all over the crown board and I think even considering or had perhaps started setting up a nest in the roof space. I covered the holes in the crown board and then dusted it and inside the roof with ground cinnamon using a soft brush to work it into all the cracks and crevices. I needed to repeat the treatment once and they got the message and the hive is free of them now and the colony doing well. The hive in question is sitting on a low stone wall with two others, so preventing the ants getting up to it was going to be difficult. The ground cinnamon certainly seemed to curtail their interest. I'm not sure I would use it inside the hive itself as it will affect the nest scent and it may also repel the bees, but some people mix it with petroleum jelly and paint a band of it onto the legs of their hive/stand.
I hope you find it similarly effective.
Regards
Barbara |
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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Barbara,that sounds like a good mixture I can put on the blocks.I have relocated the wasp trap(which I now call an ant hotel )in the opposite direction as well, so hopefully they will go towards that again. |
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Adam Rose Silver Bee
Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 589 Location: Manchester, UK
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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2016 5:31 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the link.Very helpful.I never really thought about ants and bees being related,but when you think about it they have a lot in common. |
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Ariel New Bee
Joined: 07 Apr 2015 Posts: 7 Location: Hertfordshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2016 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Another user on a previous post recommended placing tomato leaves around the hive to deter ants. I tried it out as there had been a trail of ants going in to the hive for quite a while. Over that week the ants pretty much disappeared and I have not seen any since (about 1 month ago, only applying leaves once) |
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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 6:33 am Post subject: |
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I used the vasaline and cinnamon method with success,but we are always having ant problems here ,so I will do the tomato leaves next Thanks. |
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JGW07 Scout Bee
Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 272 Location: USA, GA, Hephzibah
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Beeblebrox Guard Bee
Joined: 25 Sep 2010 Posts: 82 Location: UK - north Oxfordshire
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 2:32 pm Post subject: Ants |
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It sounds like your hive is above or very near an ants nest. Dig around with a trowel, once you find it kill it.
Don't use an insecticide or other poison! Boiling water probably best (unless this scorches roots of valued plants nearby)
You can also sprinkle cinnamon dust or plant Marigolds round the hive, which doesn't kill ants but they don't like it and it will encourage survivors to move their nest. Bees don't mind marigolds, but don't get cinnamon dust near the hive itself, not good to upset the smells in the hive.
The ants are attracted to sugar, syrup etc. The bees should be able to keep them away from capped honey and vulnerable brood but can't be everywhere at once. Minimise gaps in the hive walls / around frames. A mesh floor is not good in this circumstance, it is like an open door to ants. |
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AndyC Scout Bee
Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Posts: 304 Location: Uk/Horsham/RH13
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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Not sure the go-to answer has to be kill, kill, kill.
Put some tomato plant leaves under the lid and let them live in peace with your bees, as they have done for millions of years. |
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Carol Scott New Bee
Joined: 28 Mar 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Falmouth, Cornwall
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 3:14 pm Post subject: Ants and Bees |
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Thanks to all for ideas to disperse and prevent ants entering hive I shall experiment with petroleum jelly and cinnamon and cut away any grass that may be swaying towards the hive. Carol |
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Jenny Mc House Bee
Joined: 06 Aug 2016 Posts: 16 Location: granada.spain
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 6:23 am Post subject: |
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I agree with you andy.I don't want to kill anything.That was not my intention when I started with my bees.I am able to observe my hive any time of day or night,and I watched the situation wjth facsination.The ants were discouraged by a little cinnamon and now the hive is established the bees can tack care of themselves. |
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Carol Scott New Bee
Joined: 28 Mar 2015 Posts: 9 Location: Falmouth, Cornwall
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 12:48 pm Post subject: Ants and petrolium jelly |
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Thanks to all for suggestions. My hTBH is on legs and so I smeared the Vaseline and cinnamon concoction round each leg and watched as ants gave up the attempt. Looking inside on the top of the bars there are no eggs but a few ants which I have brushed off again. Opinion seems to be that ants do no harm, but I shall use this solution around the other two hives as well. |
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AndyC Scout Bee
Joined: 04 Jul 2014 Posts: 304 Location: Uk/Horsham/RH13
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2016 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Yes climbing up the stems but I don't often see them out on the leaves.
Maybe it's an old wives tale? |
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Barnie House Bee
Joined: 15 Jan 2019 Posts: 10 Location: Berlin
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