Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: BeeLady on May 18, 2006, 06:58:03 PM

Title: Keeping Fire Ants out of my hives/ and Weed Control
Post by: BeeLady on May 18, 2006, 06:58:03 PM
My (2) hives are set on stands made of angle iron about 18"  off the ground.  I have the legs of the stands set in empty tuna fish cans.  If I put petroleum oil in the cans or on the legs of the hives, will the bees be harmed?  What about vegetable oil?  Would the vegetable oil kill any ants?

I have also used axle grease on the legs of the stands - some bees got trapped in it.  Will the bees be harmed by the grease?

In Texas our fire ants can wipe out a hive quick if the hive is weak and invaded.

Second part.  Although I try and avoid the use of chemicals I like the idea of ROundup around my hives.  I've been severly stung while mowing/week wacking (not I mow or weed wack fully suited.)  How bad is Round Up vs. time and repeated need to mow or weed wack?

Thanks.
Title: Keeping Fire Ants out of my hives/ and Weed Control
Post by: Apis629 on May 19, 2006, 12:32:48 AM
Vegitable oil serves more to create a barrier than to kill the ants, but, they will be killed by suffocation but, that takes a few days.  As for keeping weeds down, I just keep my bees about 8 inches off the ground on cinderblocks and, I actually layed concreate below the hives but, the ones which I couldn't (land doesn't belong to me) I just put some old fallen shingles from the last hurrican for the two feet infront of the hive.  That keeps the weeds and grasses down just fine.
Title: Keeping Fire Ants out of my hives/ and Weed Control
Post by: BeeLady on May 20, 2006, 01:26:04 PM
Thanks Nathan - I do have some old concrete pavers I could put under and around the hive and some old shingles too.  Good idea.  Will try the vegetable oil as well.  Thanks. Lauren
Title: Keeping Fire Ants out of my hives/ and Weed Control
Post by: Apis629 on May 20, 2006, 10:42:29 PM
Just one more thing; ants (even fire ants) can be repelled by a few tablespoons of cinemon around the hive and, even on the enterence of the hive.  The ants can't stand it, but the bees don't seem to notice.