if you have the time and resources to build legs, you may consider something like this

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?271115-My-Ant-Proof-Hive-Stand-Actually-Works!/page4

while the grease is a little messier to deal with, the inverted cups mean you wont be drowning bees (and don't need rain guards)

 

Why do u need such toxic filler? Water and dish soap will easily break the water surface tension.

 

I used double sided tape with good results last season, not sticky enough 2 trap B's but ants can't pass,

 

I use cooking oil cheap kind.

 

we have sprinkled cinammon around the hive and have had decent success. rain seems to be our only enemy.

 

I mix cinnamon with vaseline and smear it on the legs of my stands. Works pretty well.

Adam

 

I tried cinnamon on ants the other night, they don't like it and disperse quickly. I would try filling your containers with cinnamon and cooking oil mix. Tell me how they like it.

 

My desire to avoid using a water based media has to do with evaporation. I like the idea of oil and cinnamon. I'll give it a go.

Thanks for the input.

 

Tanglefoot? Not from experience, just a suggestion...

 

Used motor oil here in tin cans. I make leg lids out of small pot planter saucers. I keep bees in ivy in the backyard. You drown a few bees but if you wanna make an omlet...

 

I wonder if the Crisco oil and the cinnamon mixture will work on the hive stands inside
the cup. But don't know how they can stand the hot summer temp.

I just put hi-temp grease inside the cups and the ants stay away so far. We have nasty
red and black nectar ants. The red ants would collect my mustard seeds to take them home.
I don't know why they did this on observation? I got upset and sprinkled a barrier of DE on the
soil.


Here is a simple homemade hive grease cup stand:

 

I found used motor oil in cans with legs of hive stand siting in the cans a poor anti ant device as I would accidently kick the cans and get oil on boots and pants.
Grease on legs of stands work better.
Walt