Bees Have Pest Problems, Too

There is no location on earth completely free of ants. If you are lucky, you may not have ant issues every year in your home or business. The breadth of ant pestering goes beyond the kitchen, trash, and areas with access to water, but they also often pester bees! Ants are small but mighty; as everyone knows, they work together and become powerful forces as a group. So, if ants pester bees, they also become pests to dedicated beekeepers.

It makes sense that ants attempt to infiltrate beehives. Thick, sugary honey and honeycomb would be tempting for many pests, but ants seem to be on the front lines. Ants seem to be able to find beehives quickly, targeting feeders and colonies seemingly overnight. Although ants are pests to bees, their foraging skills impress because of the sheer distance they travel to get to those hives.

Newcomers to Beekeeping Beware

Those new to beekeeping are encouraged to utilize tools and equipment to make the beginning easier as they hone their craft. There is a rush of exhilaration when the first units are assembled and ready for residence. Deciding the location is a task of its own. One must be mindful of the likely flight path of bees in relation to neighboring properties and spaces with ample shade and protection from weather elements. Once a location is decided, only time will tell if it is the best for new beekeepers.

Many new beekeepers are initially tempted to supplement bee food sources, which is entirely normal. However, this added food source can be a tempting target for raccoons, skunks, and ants. Ants can cover a top feeder by the thousands, preventing bees from accessing what they need organically. In short, thousands of ants covering the feeder will disrupt the bee’s activities and only worsen if left alone.

If ants have infested a feeder, remove it and leave it off for a few days, hoping the ants will dissipate and move on. Experienced beekeepers may suggest several ways to handle these little ant pests, so contact your local beekeeper or bee removal company. They will likely have some things you can try on your own.

Beehive Ants

Ant-free hives may not be possible where you live and keep your hives. Some ants may visit regularly, but you need to address it when it becomes an infestation that interrupts the bee's activities. Ants are more of a pest to beekeepers than bees. Some beekeepers call ants the mice of beehives, and the beekeepers will find they are dealing with larger pests like skunks, raccoons, armadillos, and toads. Although a pain, the inconvenience is minor.

Black carpenter ants may not eat wood, but they can tunnel through. However, the damage they cause is minimal and can take years, which probably doesn’t bother the bees much. However, a red ant population can make beekeeping challenging, to say the least. We don’t recommend standing in any anthills during your beekeeping tasks because that can be a painful reminder they are there.

Relocating Beehives or Protecting Them

Seasoned beekeepers may suggest elevating beehives off the ground and clearing ground cover at the base. These two efforts are well known to deter ant activity. Additionally, if tree branches hang over the hive area, ants are masters at making long and sturdy bridges to get where they want to go, and those races can be a great conduit for them, so trim them back when possible. If ant activity pesters you and your bees, partner with a local beekeeper or human and live bee removal company. Companies like D-Tek have been working with fellow beekeepers for decades and have experience and knowledge that will be helpful if moving the hives is necessary.