Sugar Ants

antaro · June 17, 2011, 12:32:13 AM

How concerned should I be about sugar ants with my hive?
I have a pretty decent stream of ants cruising up my hive and going onto my inner cover to partake in some robbing of the syrup that I am feeding my hive. Not sure if I should care or if there is a way to stop this.

My buddy had a similar issue a few months back and he just shimmed up his bucket feeder an inch so that the bees had access to the upper deep that was enclosing the bucket feeder. The bees made short work of the ants.

...to boot I also found a nice family or earwigs chilling in my other hive's feeding area this morning.

slacker361 · June 17, 2011, 12:35:52 AM

My first hive had the black ant in it and once the hive got strong enough the bees took care of the problem.. My third hive a new hive and somewhat weak had a tremendous battle between the ants and the bees... The evidence of the carnage was in the hive feeder, about 100 - 200 dead cut in half bees, I had to step in and clear the hive of the ants... I think the hive might be taking care of it now.....

Katharina · June 18, 2011, 04:22:40 PM

Sprinkling Cinnamon underneath the hive takes care of the tiny sugar ants. It does not deter the larger ants.

Keskin · June 18, 2011, 06:42:40 PM

Talcum powder for babies...
Sprinkling on the ground around the hive is the most effective way.

antaro · June 18, 2011, 09:29:06 PM

Do I make a ring of cinnamon encircling the hive? Just put a little under it?

Same deal with talcum?

antaro · June 21, 2011, 10:57:56 PM

Cinnamon is a champ!
I sprinkled it around the perimeter of the hive and made a ring around the feeding bucket (where the ants were going). Within a few hours those suckers were gone.

Cheers, Katharina!

Keskin · June 22, 2011, 02:51:11 AM

Congratulations...