Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => UK / EUROPEAN BEEKEEPING => Topic started by: johnnie1uk on June 14, 2014, 03:29:39 am

Title: Ants - are they a problem?
Post by: johnnie1uk on June 14, 2014, 03:29:39 am
I have just started beekeeping, and notice there are ants running around in various places on and in the hive, are they a problem to the bees or don't they matter?
Title: Re: Ants - are they a problem?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 14, 2014, 07:00:12 am
It depends on the type of ants that you have. I always have ants in the hives. Most of them are the garbage collectors (sugar ants) that clean up what the bees drop.
I have had what I think was bull ants or a cousin to the carpenter ant that moved in one evening and killer the hive. I killed every one of them  and never had that problem again. Knock on wood.   :-D
The cheapest long term way to protect your hives is to put used coffee grounds around the bases of your hives. Cinnamon also works but washes away every time it rains. Limestone power also works.
Jim
Title: Re: Ants - are they a problem?
Post by: johnnie1uk on June 14, 2014, 07:05:32 am
Thanks, I like the coffee grounds idea, I can get loads of those. and they are ecologically friendly.
Title: Re: Ants - are they a problem?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 14, 2014, 07:17:39 am
And free.  :-D
Jim
Title: Re: Ants - are they a problem?
Post by: Wombat2 on February 10, 2016, 05:59:13 pm
Thanks, I like the coffee grounds idea, I can get loads of those. and they are ecologically friendly.

Must try it myself - also if practical - apply grease to the hive supports - there is a specific long lasting tacky goo sold for fruit trees to apply to the trunks to keep ants out of citrus trees - but grease works as well
Title: Re: Ants - are they a problem?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 10, 2016, 08:01:42 pm
Where I live they are not a problem.  People living further south have issues.