[happybees]

I got about 15 hives in my backyard and simple can’t keep the ants away from the hives. Even right now they are covered with small, black ants. At first I bought some white powder, boric acid and made a line around the hives. After a while, at my surprise ants were jumping over the boric acid.
I put the hives on pallets with legs and the legs in cups of oil (it is not the best idea – pollution). As soon as a fallen, dry leaf made a dry bridge over the oil they were back in the hives. Now I used some chemicals from Wall-Mart, but with no results and I am afraid not to harm the bees using pesticides.
Can anyone give me a suggestion how to handle this ant problem? Probably I can move away the hives if needed.
Thank you a lot.

 

[LAC]

Ants will leave a chemical trail from your hives back to their nests. So if you see ants coming and going from your hives, then it is possible to track them back to their nests and treat them in that one location.

 

[camero7]

here are some ideas:
http://douglasfarm.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/1126862-10-ways-to-fight-ants-without-chemicals

 

[BeeCurious]

snip (it is not the best idea – pollution). As soon as a fallen, dry leaf made a dry bridge over the oil they were back in the hives.

Take a look at this:
http://www.beesource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=476209&postcount=1

This will eliminate the pollution risk and the "leaf bridge"

And it has the added advantage of being really curious looking.

 

[Randall Clark]

If it is not too cost prohibitive, go to a Farm Supply or Pet outlet and buy the large 10 - 12 inch diameter feed dishes that are about 3 inches deep. Place one under each leg of your hive stand. Fill them with water. It will keep the ants from being able to access the legs of the hive stand AND provide water for the bees. Consider placing a small board or something for the bees to land on in each dish to keep them from accidentally drowning.

 

[hemichuck]

We just sprinkled ground cinnamon all around the hives and the ants didnt like it.When I find ants on my inner and outer covers or my feeder boards I cover them with cinnamon and shake it around til they are coated then put them back on the hive.Ants will leave after that.I've used instant grits to keep ants out of my house.

 

[alpha6]

.I've used instant grits to keep ants out of my house.

Not surprised. No self respecting Southerner would eat instant grits...even ants.

 

[Cedar Hill]

When my hives have ant troubles, it is usually because of a moisture problem within the hive. Ants need water. Simply raising the top cover's "lip" and setting it onto the front edge of the inner cover - allowing air to circulate between the top cover and the inner cover has always cured the problem here. No moisture, no ant nest. OMTCW

 

[DRUR]

Not surprised. No self respecting Southerner would eat instant grits...even ants.

:lpf::lpf::lpf:
Thanks alpha6, I brightened my day.

Kindest Regards
DRU

 

[RDY-B]

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1378699&CAWELAID=202839699

let the rain wash the granuals into the soil around pallets and find nests and do the same-RDY-B

 

[hemichuck]

Alpha6....AMEN to that...them ants must have been yankees.

 

[honeydreams]

What to do about ants here is a good way if you have legs on your hive stand stick each leg in a tuna can half filled with cooking oil makes a good mote that ants and other crawling bugs can't cross.