Ant problem

[Pete Nicholson]

Lots of ants climbing up the stand legs and getting up on top of crown board. Was going to dust around the stand with NI**ON ant powder till I read the safety data sheet (permethrin VERY toxic to bees).
Any one got a good method?
Lateral thinking..........ants contain formic acid and formic acid is used in varoa control!?!?

 

[alldigging]

There are all sorts of ideas about standing hive legs in water moats or sprinkling cinnamon round.

Probably the easiest way is to water under the hive so make the ants disperse from where they're living.
They don't like wet nests and may be under any slabs you've got your hive on.

And cold water is fine.

 

[Pete Nicholson]

Thanks AD - worth a try. Can't stand in moats as on rails with legs hammered into ground around a slab base.
Cheers
P.

 

[ratcatcher]

I tend to leave them be, every insect has a reason, and Ive noticed on a hive that had a varroa board on, no varroa, as the ants were carrying them off to feed the young,

 

[BeeJayBee]

I tend to leave them be

Same here.

There are ants visiting one of my colonies, but they aren't inside the brood box and don't seem to be worrying the bees.

 

[madasafish]

Ants keep my varroa boards clean...

 

[Skyhook]

I tend to leave them be, every insect has a reason, and Ive noticed on a hive that had a varroa board on, no varroa, as the ants were carrying them off to feed the young,

Ants keep my varroa boards clean...

Which is why you should oil your boards to get an accurate count. And if you don't want a count, get the boards out.

.

 

[Pete Nicholson]

Yes Skyhook - that thought did cross my mind as well.........
Thanks all for your constuctive comments.
P.