Hive Top Feeder & Black Ants

[Benton2569]

I have a hive over at a friends house. Yesterday as I was filling the polystyrene (styrafoam) hive top feeder with sugar syrup I noticed that the syrup was shooting out of the side just like a hole in a bucket. It turns out that Black Carpenter Ants had eaten their way THROUGH the side of the feeder (my new hive top feeder that is). They did this in three different locations.

Any thoughts on fighting ants and preventing them from ruining my feeder?

This location is temporary until I can build up this hive and bring it back into my bee yard.

Thx

[mike haney]

use gallon metal paint cans or gallon glass jars. good luck,mike

[Jeffzhear]

Benton, I had never thought of that, ants chewing through those styrafoam feeders. Another reason to stay away from styrafoam. I have no clue how to fix those. I've started mixing borox and jelly and smearing that slurry on the hive stands, underneath and it seems to be helping what little ant problems I have.

[odfrank]

If you have carpenter ants eating your feeder, the site you are at probably has bigger problems than that. I spent $11000. repairing carpenter ant damage to my cabin. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Benton2569]

Those little b_stards ate holes in each of the feeders corners. I have never seen ants like this before.

Let me say that the folks who own this land are not ones for maintenace. The hive is near an old woodshed that is in pretty rough shape. I originally had two nucs at this site and ants drove out one of them. I am going to move the hive over to a field that is away from any wood and in plenty of sun.

[walking bird]

I put a tin plate under each leg of the hive stand, and pour in some used motor oil. Ants can't get through the oil to get to the hive.

[Troy]

The motor oil only works well in areas where it doesn't rain much. Probably it works fine for walking bird out in CA, but in FL it is an environmental disaster as the rain sinks to the bottom and once the container is full the nasty used motor oil runs out on the ground and forms an EPA superfund site.

Also, I tried it with veggie oil and it splattered all over the hives when it rained hard and made a sticky mess when the sun dried it.

For me I make my hive stands with thin metal legs and when feeding I cote the legs in tanglefoot and it works for a while….

http://www.tanglefoot.com/products/barrier.htm

Of course it is sticky and the dirt splatters up on it and it forms a crust that eventually the ants CAN get through and you have to scrape it off and reapply, but usually I’m not feeding long enough o worry about that. I’m still experimenting with hive stand designs….. Concrete paver stones under the legs are my latest idea to slow down the splatter effect.

Next season I’m going to try landscape fabric too.

[mike haney]

troy- i use scrap drywall 'cause its cheap or free, effective, and biodegradeable. carpet scraps work better, last longer but nylon carpet does not degrade well. good luck,mike

[Troy]

scrap drywall, huh? I guess I like that idea pretty well. Gypsum is an all natural product.

How long does it last? I guess I should ask how much it rains there.

It is monsoon season in FL. We get heavy rain most every day now.

I would think the rains would make it soft and then when you walk on it, it'll break up and then the weeds will start to grow through. but that would be OK if it took two seasons or more.

[msmithnewbee]

I have found a great way to keep carpenter ants out of houses/barns etc. "Moth Balls" Just spread them around the openings or around the edges of your basement. For some reason, they will leave the area. Maybe they die???? But anyway,they were gone.

I'm new at beekeeping and don't have any idea how they would affect bees, but maybe you could spread a few along the ground under the hive.

!!!!! I would ask for advice from more experienced beekeepers though because after all, moth balls contain insecticidal chemicals and bees are insects !!!!!

I'm interested in hearing a response.

Our problem was with sweet ants. Cinnamon solved this. It acted as a deterrent, but watch where they move to.

[mustangbee]

I am already having to feed my bees. I am a beginner and trying to learn all I can as fast as I can. My problem right now is that I find several large black ants on my hive body and in the feeder box. The hive is tight but the ants can go in through the vent in the top cover. Is there any insecticide that can safely be placed on the bottom of the hive box to repel the ants?:cool:

[mustangbee]

If you have carpenter ants eating your feeder, the site you are at probably has bigger problems than that. I spent $11000. repairing carpenter ant damage to my cabin. :eek: :eek: :eek:

I saw today that some success has been had with using white gravwel around houses. Do you think this would work for bee hives?