Ants and my hives

[esnipes]

I have three new hives and ants keep trying to invade. I've had problems with carpenter ants, fire ants, and big black ants.

How do you keep these out of the hive?

[Heartspark]

Some of the ways i've read is to put the bee's on a stand and the legs in coffee cans, and fill the cans with some type of oil to keep ants from climbing up legs. Making a moat.

Another one is to just use a lubricant on the legs of stand so ants get stuck trying to climb up. Both these require to re apply it after a heavy rain though.

I've heard certain plants/smells deter them as well, but have not researched that much.

[honeybeekeeper]

I use DE around the hives and sprinkle cinnamin on the inner cover!

[esnipes]

What is DE?

[Roadstar]

DE = Diatomaceous Earth.

But, not all Diatomaceous Earth is created, or treated, equally. Actually, the DE grade used for swimming pool filtration is not recommended for insect control. You can read about it here:

http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html

[davel]

Hey! I'm not too far from you and had the same problem. After looking at all the possible ways to fend them off I found a cheap solution.
I bought some grease at Wally World in the auto section...get the cheapest tube they have for grease guns. I think it was under $3.
Smear the grease on your hive stand legs about 3 or 4 inches off the ground and make the swipe about 3 or 4 inches wide. Put it on liberally.
Try to get the grease that is waterproof or highly water resistant.
I have had it on for a couple of weeks now through the bad storms and it is working great so far! I still have half the tube to reapply when needed.
No ants so far!! They won't try to cross it and if they do they are stuck!
Good luck!

[daj4cy]

D.E. = diacamus earth
It is used in swimming pool applications for filtering.

[merdoc]

I keep ant poison out not alot but i keep it sprinkeled around and under my hive.Be careful spilling sugar water that draws ants too.