Moldy Pollen Substitute & Ant Infestation - HELP!

[2BorNot2B]

Sorry about the double post. I just found the Disease and Pest Forum.

My dillema...


I am starting my first colony. I hived my package on or about 4/22. It has been a cool spring here in Minnesota. I have been feeding my bees sugar syrup and pollen substitute patties to make sure they are getting enough food to ensure a health colony.

I have two problems.

#1... There are large (10mm) black ants infesting the feeder area. They don't seem to be in the hive itself. I think that they are having difficulty finding food because of the cold spring and are taking advantage of the food available. Should I really be concerned about this?

#2... The pollen substitute that I put in the top of the hive body has become moldy. Is this a hint that it is too moist in the hive? Should I leave it or replace it? Is the mold harmful to the bees?

[beeman 202]

get rid of the pollen substitute as they likely will not use anymore since pollen is readily available, once this cold snap passes. You don't say how you are feeding (entrance feeder---in hive feeder---top feeder). If you are using an entrance feeder (boardman), get rid of it and use any in hive feeder or top feeder. Remove the inner cover if ants are nesting between it and the top cover. It can be replaced once the ants are gone in a week or two. Reduce all entrances to the hive to about two inches to prevent ants from invading, until the hive has grown enough that it can defend itself.

You should keep feeding sugar water or corn syrup until just before adding honey super or around june 01---june 10.

If you can find the ant colony and it is not too close to the hive, you can rake in some diazinone granules around the ant colony. Just make sure no contact with the bees.

[2BorNot2B]

I'm feeding with a 1 gallon pail upside down on the inside cover, inside an otherwise empty large hive body. The ants are inside this large hive body. Because the pail sits so tightly against the inside cover, I don't think the ants are getting inside the hive from the top.

Should I replace the discarded pollen substitute? I know that there is pollen out there now but when it is so cold (37 degrees yesterday) they arn't leaving the hive.

[Robert Brenchley]

If it's mouldy I wouldn't think it would be much use to them. Do they have stored pollen in the hive?

[2BorNot2B]

The pollen substitute in question has been replaced. It wasn't completlety covered with mold just a few spots here and there.

They do have pollen in store but very few cells. As I said, it has been very cool and wet here. The bees are not leaving the hive.


Ant Answers anyone????

Anyone???

[Michael Bush]

My answer to ants is ignore them. If you really HAVE to do something then boric acid, baking soda or cinnamon are the safest things to put where you find the ant trails.

Mold is a symptom, not a problem. It's a symptom of too much moisture in the hive. Pollen substitute is not needed this time of year and will be ignored by the bees.

The bees will not leave the hive when the temps are below 50 F.