First off, Im totally new to bee keeping.
I took the top off of one of my supers to check it out. There were big ants on top of the inner cover. I smashed all of them and put it back. I was worried about my other hive so I checked it too. No ants on the inner cover, but there were some in the bottom. My bases have two screened drawers. The bottom drawers had a bunch of little bitty ants all over it. Can you spray around your hives for ants and not hurt your bees?
I had a similar problem recently. Someone, on here, suggested that I use ground cinnamon. I scattered some around the areas were the ants were getting in. It worked well.
I had ants and eggs almost covering an inner cover. Now there are none.
The only thing I don't like about cinnamon is it washes away in rain and the ants can find ways around it on the ground (via weeds, debris,...). I do use FGMO and smear it around the base of the hives, outside and under (screened bottom boards) and this does pretty good at keeping them at bay. If we get a severely heavy downpour I need to reapply, but otherwise it stays awhile. I like them both and use both.
Here is a neat trick I tried and it seemed to work. My hive is on cinder blocks so I spread a 2 inch wide ring of Vaseline completely around the cinder blocks. The ants couldn't cross the vaseline barrier and I didn't have to use any hard chemicals which would affect the bees. After a few rain storms I had to replenish the vaseline but that took about 3 minutes. It might work for you too.
That sounds like a great trick with the vasoline Rick, I'll have to try that! I usually just circle each hive with D.E. (diotomacious earth) available at any pool supply place...it's used in pool filters. There is a much better grade of "agricultural D.E." but it's harder to find. D.E. is simply the skeletons of diatoms (where we get glass from), it's completely harmless to you (but don't breath the dust) but it cuts the ant/bug and causes them to bleed to death. Takes a few days to work but just re-apply every so often and you won't believe the results. I use it in the garden, around the house for roaches and silverfish etc.
Good luck with the ants!
Peace be yours,
Scott
The food grade DE is available online sometims as codex grade and permaguard. A search will turn up alot of places but I use Shadow Ridge to purchase mine.
I use it in the chicken coops to control flies but I have never used it near the hives, not sure how close you can get to the hives with that stuff and not harm the bees.
I built a stand and use cinder blocks as a moat and the vaseline trick too. I started out using roofing cement but, vaseline is more effective. The ants are ruthless here in Florida and I have not seen but 2 or 3 and I think they came with the hive I removed. This stand is also quite sturdy.
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