Ant control is not optional!!

[susan rudnickiModerator]

Beeks—I am getting reports of new cutouts, and recently installed bees, getting mobbed by ants because the new beek has failed to install some sort of ant repellent system to the hive legs of the hive stand. First–you must understand the fundamental drive for the Argentine ant to exploit sugary food sources—whether you “see” the ants or not. They are out there! They are building their populations in the same way healthy bees attempt to at this time of year. Ants will also eat the brood. The bees will abscond under the pressure. Don’t be silly and think there will be some miracle and the ants won’t find YOUR hive.
All feeding baggies must be INSIDE the hive body, on top of the frames with a feeding shim or another hive body to create the space for this feeder. It must contain a LOT of honey—a cup will not be adequate. Do NOT try to make the honey go further by diluting it with water. It will spoil, firstly, and it will be too runny, secondly.
The hive stand should have the garden product “Tanglefoot” applied in a one-inch wide band to the legs of the stand JUST UNDER THE BOTTOM BOARD. This location will get the least number of crawling bees stuck in the ant barrier. Hives placed on bricks or some other surface that does not allow you to isolate the hive from mobbing ants is asking for trouble. I want you to be successful in bringing home your new bees, but this ant problem is something you have to plan for. Susan

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