I never worry about ants. Most hives defend themselves just fine and it they don't, they probably have other problems.
I agree, I've never had any significant problem with ants. A couple of times where they are an annoyance to me, but the bees don't seem to notice them.
OK, that makes me feel a little better. I was afraid they'd be bothered by them and leave already. They're out there taking orientation classes. I think I'll leave them there for about ten days. Maybe even longer. They're not in the way where there are, they're just too high to work.
Did you say that you have only completely blank frames with starter strips in this hive? I wouldn't let them go more than a week like that without an inspection, just in case they were to draw anything funky, you'd want to catch it and correct it before it gets out of hand. The starter strips usually work, but that is a LOT of open space, and sometimes the bees have other ideas about what comb shape is best.
If they have a mated queen, it will be 4-5 days until there is open brood in the hive, and once there is they won't abandon the babies.
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