I am trying out a new way to prevent ants from getting into my hives.
I cut out some plywood and painted a strip of tangle foot around the underside edges to put under each hive.
What will keep bees from getting into tanglefoot? I had thought of this, but someone asked me that question and I couldn't come up with a good answer. Others have suggested putting legs into cans of oil, but it seems to me that has some problems as well. DE on ground around hive might be another solution. Others have suggested (was it Michael Bush?) that strong bees will take care of ants. I think his question might be what do feral bees about ants. Michael, do you have an answer?
The bees don't seem to visit the underside of these boards but it is the only way for the ants to get in . It is working so far the ants really bothered me I don't know if they were a major issue for the bees.
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a wood bottom frame such as a pallet. then nail heads sticking up level side to side sloping back to front of the hive.
liberally apply grease to those nails. then place the hive on top.
this works for us down here.
even thee ghost ants don't bother the girls.
I am still looking for the girls that the legs start at their ears
jay
oh by the way we have three booming hives
jay