Ants in feeders

ElDoBill · May 14, 2008, 09:28:45 PM

I'm having a problem keeping ants out of the hive top feeders. My hive sits atop two concrete blocks and I have been spreading
tanglefoot tree pest control product around the top of the blocks but it seems that the ants can crawl over each other to bridge the sticky stuff. Any one have a good solution?

Michael Bush · May 14, 2008, 09:43:47 PM

Stop feeding the ants?

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#when

ElDoBill · May 15, 2008, 09:42:30 AM

I didn't mention that this is a package installed April 19th on plain foundation. I thought it was a good practice to feed until the brood nest comb was drawn.

Scadsobees · May 15, 2008, 01:55:56 PM

Track them back to their nest and pour boiling water on the nest. :roll: Probably won't work but you'll feel better.

ElDoBill · May 15, 2008, 03:37:08 PM

Thanks for the advice. I'll follow MB's and remove the feeder immediatly. I hope the bees are inclined to build comb without suger water.

wtiger · May 15, 2008, 04:29:24 PM

I would say got a big bag of diatomaceous earth and spread it all around the hive if you must feed. From what I've read it scratches the exoskeleton of ants and kills them. Just go to the store and get the biggest cheapest bag of kitty litter you can find.

DrKurtG · May 15, 2008, 06:47:29 PM

I had the same problem. My mentor told me to spread catnip on the ground around the hive. Never had an ant problem again.

ElDoBill · May 15, 2008, 07:42:15 PM

Catnip huh? I'll give it a try. Right now I have the feeder off of the hive and a clean one to go on tomorrow. I'll try and get some catnip in the morning before I put the new feeder on. Thanks,

a wannabee · May 15, 2008, 09:48:23 PM

I read that cinnamon spread around the hive will keep ants away until the next rain anyway. I think it can be bought fairly cheap in restaurant quantities.

MrILoveTheAnts · May 15, 2008, 09:57:23 PM

Ants dislike walking over Crisco (the jell form). I assume the hive is propped up on a stand or bench type structure. Coat the legs or ways up to the hive with a coating of this ever few months, and keep any vines or grasses pruned around the hive.

annette · May 17, 2008, 01:12:30 AM

Bill

I sprinkle cinnamon powder all around the hive and it totally stops the ants.

Annette

rast · May 17, 2008, 09:34:08 AM

Cinnamon powder didn't work for me. The ants just walked over, through, and around it. Just made my wife fuss at me for using all her cinnamon.
Rick

ElDoBill · May 17, 2008, 10:27:27 AM

Thanks for the ideas. Perhaps the solutions are local depending on the types of ants.