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Bees

Help. I went into my super last night, took out one frame and harvested the honey (left the rest for the winter) - woke up to check the bees and found ants infesting the inner cover. I will go later into the super to check out the scene, but any suggestions on what to do if I find ant inside the super, etc.....

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lynda Reynolds on September 5, 2011 at 1:00pm

I had the same problem last year. I was told a strong hive will handle the ants on their own...I waited a few days and then made up my mind to help my *girls* out. I moved my hive to a sturdy outdoor patio table and put each leg in a small can filled with oil...the ants can't get to the hive now. I have done this same thing to all of my hives this year using different colored tables...I think they make my apiary unusually pretty! :)

Permalink Reply by Charles Adams on September 5, 2011 at 4:52pm

Lynda is right the oil will stop any ants and I also place mine on tables not blocks. plus I'll follow the the ants to the source and destroy the mound. Alot of people laugh but I'll use Bingle roach spray it's a permethrin inject it into the mound and no more ants no residule and no chemical for the girls to get into.

Permalink Reply by Lynda Reynolds on September 5, 2011 at 8:36pm

Oh Charles, I'll have to try the Bingle roach spray...our ant *hill* is huge and under the root system of a large English Walnut tree....we have other sites, but this is the colony that tries to steal from the bees. Thank you for the advice.

Permalink Reply by Carrie Lee Schwartz on January 10, 2013 at 9:44pm