Discovered in Texas, spreading in Lousiana & Mississippi !!
It's related to the Crazy Raspberry Ant, they have not identified it yet, hitched a ride from down South, they just eat everything, Honey bees included. They are giving Fire Ants a hard time. :evil:
Quote from: BeeHopper on November 15, 2009, 01:26:23 PM
It's related to the Crazy Raspberry Ant, they have not identified it yet, hitched a ride from down South, they just eat everything, Honey bees included. They are giving Fire Ants a hard time. :evil:
Any enemy of fire ants is a friend of mine. :-D :-D :-D
"BEE EATING ANT"
Now is that a bee eating an ant or an ant that eats bees. Sounds like some newspaper headline
The ambiguity of English
Mick
Quote from: SlickMick on November 15, 2009, 06:27:54 PM
"BEE EATING ANT"
Now is that a bee eating an ant or an ant that eats bees. Sounds like some newspaper headline
The ambiguity of English
Mick
Ok, if it needs to be explained;
http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.11.15.08.02.archive.html (http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2009.11.15.08.02.archive.html)
Bee-Bop
WOW - discovered in Houston and Pearland - waaaay too close to home for me.
I thought varroa were bad - these suckers are worrisome!
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 07:18:21 AM
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
How do you "keep them away" from your bees? The disturbing aspect is regular pesticides are not very effective and only slow them down for about 10 days. Hopefully someone will come up with something to keep them out of our houses and hives that isn't harmful to us and our bees.
Quote from: sarafina on November 16, 2009, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 07:18:21 AM
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
How do you "keep them away" from your bees? The disturbing aspect is regular pesticides are not very effective and only slow them down for about 10 days. Hopefully someone will come up with something to keep them out of our houses and hives that isn't harmful to us and our bees.
Very simple, you put your bees up on legs, and you set the legs in a can of water. If by chance, they like to swim, you put about an inch of oil in the cans instead of water, this will work.
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 04:05:31 PM
Quote from: sarafina on November 16, 2009, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 07:18:21 AM
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
How do you "keep them away" from your bees? The disturbing aspect is regular pesticides are not very effective and only slow them down for about 10 days. Hopefully someone will come up with something to keep them out of our houses and hives that isn't harmful to us and our bees.
Very simple, you put your bees up on legs, and you set the legs in a can of water. If by chance, they like to swim, you put about an inch of oil in the cans instead of water, this will work.
ahhh.... that makes sense - thank-you! Mine are on cinder blocks now but if they become a problem then at least I know what I can do to solve it.
And I am with you on eating the fire ants !!!!!
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 07:18:21 AM
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
Careful what you wish for. They say "Better the devil you know than the one you don't."
Raspberry Ants (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq6Y4WBxvL8#)
related to the crazy ant :lol: RDY-B
Quote from: Sparky on November 17, 2009, 09:25:45 PM
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 07:18:21 AM
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
Careful what you wish for. They say "Better the devil you know than the one you don't."
Evidently ya'l do not have the fire ant
YET!
Yea, I pictured bees eating ants, and that was a crazy picture...
What will be will be. I'm sure we can't eradicate them, although I'm sure some organization will try..
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 04:05:31 PM
Quote from: sarafina on November 16, 2009, 10:41:40 AM
Quote from: lakeman on November 16, 2009, 07:18:21 AM
If their only bad side is that they eat bees, and if they will rid us of the fire ant, I think it is a great trade off. I will have no problem keeping them away from my bees.
How do you "keep them away" from your bees? The disturbing aspect is regular pesticides are not very effective and only slow them down for about 10 days. Hopefully someone will come up with something to keep them out of our houses and hives that isn't harmful to us and our bees.
Very simple, you put your bees up on legs, and you set the legs in a can of water. If by chance, they like to swim, you put about an inch of oil in the cans instead of water, this will work.
You can grease the legs too, but keep in mind, some species of ants build " ant bridges" over obstacles, where many are sacrificed for the greater good of the colony.