Ant proofing a hive stand.

[newbeeinbromley]

Hello All,

I had a problem with ants last year and didn't really deal with it. One of this years tasks is to set up the hives after winter with proofing all ready sorted.

I have browsed the forum just wanted to know if there have been any new ideas etc.

I was thinking of each leg in a plastic bowl filled with water but wondered if it would rot out or cause other problems.

Don't fancy any poisons just want to divert them away from the girls honey supply.

Tevja.

 

[pargyle]

I'd think more along the lines of sticky bands ...low down on the legs.

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=grease+bands+for+fruit+trees

The trouble with water filled pots is that the timber will rot .. unless you really soak the bottom bit in preservative before you install your water barrier.

 

[Goran]

At my place we don't have problems with ants. Some odd if manage take trash from bottom board ( fallen varroa for example). Once since I had nylon on top bars and above miller feeder upside down, somehow they manage to find a hole and bring their eggs on the nylon. Bees are giving them warmth through nylon, up they are safe from predators..
Some even advocate to place hives above where anthills are. When think free dose of formic and cleaning service.. perhaps..

 

[snelgrove]

Creosote the hive stand they won't climb up it, earwigs or twitchy bells as we call them here are also a nuisance under the roofs

 

[Millet]

I'd think more along the lines of sticky bands ...low down on the legs.

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=grease+bands+for+fruit+trees

The trouble with water filled pots is that the timber will rot .. unless you really soak the bottom bit in preservative before you install your water barrier.

Better still fill them with wood preserver. ? .

 

[jfullerton]

Better still fill them with wood preserver. ? .

Or vegetable oil...?

 

[pargyle]

Or vegetable oil...?

But, when it rains the oil will float on the top of the water and will overflow - rather defeating the object.

 

[Millet]

But, when it rains the oil will float on the top of the water and will overflow - rather defeating the object.

Just build a big frame out of scaffold about 30ft high and dangle the hive from that, problem solved, , or on a more sensible note put little wigwams over the pots to stop the rain interfering .

 

[Millet]

Fook it just buy a Ant Eater (Aardvark) and tie it too the hive, a bit like a guard dog tied to a pointlessly placed kennel.

 

[REDWOOD]

Just slap on some vaseline around the stand legs.

 

[peteinwilts]

I tried a couple of inches of drainpipe paint on one of my first hive stands. Horrible greasy stuff that does not dry.

The ants stopped invading, but horrible if you get it onto your beesuit (as per experience!)

 

[Vortex]

I had a problem at the start of last year with ants on one of my hives.
I found the sticky bands didn't work .. the ants either found their way across the dead bodies of their comrades or found a way underneath the band .. they don't work very well on square timber..
In the end I solved the problem using the indoor ant gel blocks placed on the top of the crown board under the roof - feeder holes blocked so the bees couldn't get to the ant gel.
Took 6 blocks over a period of 8 weeks to kill the nest off completely.
Basically the ants collect the gel and take it back to the nest, where they eat it and feed it to the larva .. and eventually no more ants.

 

[abm]

Secret is to locate the nest and destroy.

Worker ants are easy to follow and they will point out where the nest is to treat.

 

[alldigging]

Pour cold water round the hive legs. They don't like being wet.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I should be OK here in Wales, then

 

[Millet]

....

 

[BeeJayBee]

At my place we don't have problems with ants. Some odd if manage take trash from bottom board ( fallen varroa for example). Once since I had nylon on top bars and above miller feeder upside down, somehow they manage to find a hole and bring their eggs on the nylon. Bees are giving them warmth through nylon, up they are safe from predators..
Some even advocate to place hives above where anthills are. When think free dose of formic and cleaning service.. perhaps..

I'm tempted to agree with Goran.

We have little black ants in our garden, sometimes they find their way into a hive but I haven't seen them anywhere other than the roof.

I'm not sure if they could do any harm if they get into the hive, and surely the bees will deal with them?

 

[sipa]

Sprinkle ground cinnamon around the legs, ants hate it and will leave.

Cheap if you buy in bulk.

 

[Poly Hive]

I think I read some where that standing the hive legs in pots of oil works well.

PH

 

[REDWOOD]

cinnamon is a good ant replant, you can either use it in powder form or oil based.