Methods of bioprotection of the hive from ants and other crawling insects
What you will learn here
- Why are ants dangerous to a bumblebee nest?
- How it works in the nest
- How can this be prevented?
Last updated: 16/2/2024
In a nutshell
- Ants are a danger : some species of ants can destroy a nest – pollen, nectar and larvae. Some species will not harm a nest.
- It only takes a moment: if the ants decide to rob the nest, it only takes a moment for them to do so
- The hive must be protected: to prevent ants from entering the bumblebee hive, it is necessary to create obstacles for them.
- It's easy: creating obstacles is easy, but it requires diligence
- Without regular checks, the measures may not be effective: check that the barriers created are effective - all it takes is one blade of grass or a twig and the ants will find their way into the hive
English Abstract
- Ants are a danger: some ant species can destroy the nest – pollen, nectar and larvae. Some species will not harm the nest
- It only takes a moment: if ants decide to rob a nest, they only need a moment
- The hive must be protected: to prevent ants from getting into the bumblebee hive, barriers must be created
- It's easy: creating barriers is easy, but it requires care
- Without regular checking, the measures may not be effective: check that the barriers created are effective – just one blade of grass or twig and the ants will find their way into the hive
Introduction
Some species of ants are effective exterminators . If they find their way into the hive, they take away the bumblebees' honey supplies and their larvae .
abandon the hive (the initial phase of the nest), or weaken the nest and the bumblebees abandon it, or survive in it without offspring.
Sometimes ants are only interested in the pollen on the garlic and do not necessarily enter the nest. There are even recorded cases when ants lived in the nest of bumblebees as tenants .
Known cases of bumblebee nests being attacked by ants clearly say – protect the hives from the intrusion of ants.
Call:
If your nest has been attacked by ants and you have photos of the attack, please send them to us for use on this website. Our address is info@cmelaciplus.cz
You can learn more about ants as parasites of bumblebees in the chapter on parasites and enemies of bumblebees (in preparation).
It is therefore necessary to prevent ants from accessing the nest by creating an ant barrier .
This can only be achieved by creating ant-proof zones between the hive and its surroundings on all walkways . Walkways are places such as the hive legs, stand, curtains and other parts of the hive structure, for example, an absorbent cloth that accidentally touches the wall, or branches and grass stems that touch the hive.
The protection must always meet the following requirements:
- Safety for bumblebees and other wild insects – bumblebees, as well as other hymenopteran insects, must not be caught in the trap and die in it.
- Durability , i.e., so that the protection works as much as possible without dependence on us, the breeders - it is necessary to take into account the risks associated with drying out or, conversely, a decrease in effectiveness in heat or rain.
These measures reliably protect bumblebees from all crawling insects such as ants, including woodlice (Mutillidae) and woodworms (Dermaptera).
Attention:
- Even if you create good protection against ants, you are not guaranteed victory - it is often forgotten that branches and blades of grass that touch the hive can create a footbridge over which ants can enter the hive.
- Any protection against ants and crawling insects must be checked regularly and renewed if necessary.
- If you use liquid protection (water/oil), choose a solution that prevents the liquid from drying out and seeping into the hive structure - see further text.
Protecting the hive against ants - ants
Photo Internet
Protecting the hive against ants - ants on the garlic
Photo O.Hercog
In the following text, we present possible solutions to these requirements depending on the method of hive placement.
We would be happy if you would write to us about your solutions, we will be happy to supplement our recommendations with your proven ones.
Perhaps you could start by looking at what it looks like when ants enter a bumblebee nest. Some types of ants do not harm bumblebee nests, while others destroy them. It is difficult to guess what type of ants live around your hive, so we recommend applying the recommended measures as a preventive measure.
The video was provided to us by Petra Hersemeier, who filmed it in Düsseldorf in April 2020. In this case, it was an attack by ants from the genus Lasius.
A nest placed on the ground or on a raised platform
The most common, but not in all respects the most suitable location for a hive (not only from the point of view of protection against ants) is on the ground.
Solution:
- Some manufacturers already supply hives with such a solution and therefore embed nuts , etc. in the bottom of the hive for placing screws . However, it is not a problem to make such legs yourself.
- Create legs on the hive body using screws .
- If you want to use screws , use furniture nuts. They look like a large screw, but have an internal metric thread. You screw the screws into them. You can then very conveniently align the hive in the y-plane.
This is a more stable solution and will last a long time even when handling a heavy hive. - You can also use flat-head
screws This solution is functional, but it is more difficult to level the oil. - Then place the hive with its legs in containers - metal or plastic bowls, PET bottle caps, medicine bottles, small cups, etc.
- The containers should be filled with non-edible oil, thick liquid soap, sticky soap, Chemstop , etc. - simply, a material that the ants will not pass through or stick to.
- If you use Apilanol , the ants will not stick to such a place, but they will not overcome the obstacle. This ecological material is used by beekeepers.
- Containers that incoming bumblebees cannot see the oil in, i.e. taller and narrower are suitable . It is also a good idea to hide the bowls under the hive floor plan, where bumblebees cannot see them, where it does not rain on them and where they do not dry out so easily.
However, the liquid dries out relatively quickly and needs to be replenished. - CAUTION – unsuitable containers (large) can become a bumblebee trap.
- It works very well to fill the bowls with Chemstop , which you only need to refill once or twice a season. Apilanol will last you one season.
- Large bowls that are not covered by the hive floor plan are not suitable - bumblebees are attracted by the shimmer of the liquid surface and can drown in the bowl or get stuck.
Because the bowls are not covered, they dry out faster or get rained on, and the effectiveness of the protection is lost. - Do not use water, it will dry quickly.
- However, do not use non-edible oil where pets and garden animals (e.g. hedgehogs) can access it.
- Do not use cooking oil, as it will attract ants .
Apilanol
Photo: Photo Internet
Material for creating an adhesive layer by application – Chemstop
If you place the hive legs further below the bottom and use Chemstop/Apilanol as the filling, you will create a functional and safe solution. One filling will last more than one season and the risk of bumblebees getting stuck here is minimal.
Protection against ants from a PET bottle cap - Chemstop refill
Photo O. Hercog 4/2021
Other alternative solutions
Protection against ants, scare on the ground
Photo J.Čížek
Protecting the hive against ants – a hive on the ground.
The containers are quite large, but smaller ones are better
Photo D. Mesko
Protecting the hive against ants - a hive on the ground - edible oil as an ant feeder
We recommend a more durable material such as Chemstop for the lids, ants don't like it "-) Photo Š.Vácha
A hole in the wall
Ants can also discover a nest on a wall at a height of 100 cm and above and make a feeder from the nest. Here too, it is necessary to address protection against ants.
Do not forget that ants often move along the wall of the house, garage or shed where you place your nest. One lone explorer can call diners to the hive.
Solution:
- On the crossbars (i.e. where the hive is hung or attached) it is necessary to create a barrier against ants.
- It is best to wrap the perimeter of the crossbar with adhesive tape and then apply an adhesive layer of Chemstop/Apilanol around the entire perimeter.
- There are also repellent products offered, for example, to beekeepers, but their effectiveness has not been verified in practice.
- Always make sure that ants/birds do not stick to the ant protection
Protection against ants - scarecrow on the wall hangings
Photo O.Hercog
Protection of the hive against ants – a hive on the fence wall.
Photo O.Hercog
Protection against ants - scarecrow on the wall hangings
Photo O.Hercog
Adhesive strips for hive protection
Some manufacturers have already started to supply solutions for hanging hives on the wall. The solution in the photo is very nice in design, looks robust and will certainly serve its purpose, but…
It does not allow the hive to be removed from the wall , to inspect the nest and to carry out any intervention inside, which can be a bit of a problem during the season.
The manufacturer does not yet provide information on its website about how to protect against ants, we assume that they will add it later.
However, you can create protection in a similar way - lubricate the perimeter of the holder with Chemstop/Apilanol, or cover it with adhesive tape.
Since the bracket is firmly attached, this will be a little more complicated. However, it will help to support the bracket with a larger nut between the wall and the bracket) and thanks to this you can then protect its entire perimeter.
Practical women like Alenka Votavová recommend an even simpler solution:
Cut a piece of sticky tape so that it is larger than the curtain. Place the tape under the curtain on the wall/wall and only then screw the curtain on. If you want to mess around 🙂 and save the wall, place the tape between the hive and the curtain.
If the sticky tape extends beyond the curtain, it should also prevent the ants from penetrating the nest.
We haven't tried it yet, but in principle it should work.
If this works for you, please send us a photo to supplement the instructions.
If you are concerned about the facade of your house getting stuck, try a different approach.
Commercially manufactured hive hanger
Photo manufacturer's website
A nest placed on a stand
If you have chosen to place the hive on a stand, protection against ants is easier.
Solution:
- It seems appropriate to use Chemstop , which you can use to paint the places where ants could enter the hive (crosswalks).
- Similarly, sticky insect strips or insect repellent can be used.
- It is advisable to create a bowl on the stand, around the entire circumference of the stand (tube).
- On the stand from the pipe, create a bowl from sheet metal or plastic and fill it with a liquid that the ants cannot pass through. You can use non-edible oil, greasy soap, Chemstop , etc.
- Places with a sticky layer or the bowl with the liquid must be covered so that it does not rain and that the bumblebees do not stick to them.
Since the container is placed right under the hive, it does not rain on it, the sun does not shine on it and so the liquid / filling lasts longer in it. - It is better to create a deeper bowl, but with a small surface area - the ant will not be able to climb over it, but at the same time, bumblebees or other random insects will not get caught in it. (see photo)
Rosťa is meticulous, so he literally prepared an obstacle course for the ants (multi-level protection).
Note ČM+ – If I were an ant, I would commit suicide by jumping off a daisy when I saw this insurmountable defense of the hive… "-)
This bumblebee stands on a classic fence post. The bumblebee is connected to the post by a foot. The first obstacle the ants must overcome is a trap in the form of adhesive tape to protect trees. The most suitable is double-sided tape.
Another trap awaits them in the form of an oil ditch - I used a tall round vitamin box, where I removed the lid, cut off the beveled upper edge, and drilled the bottom with a jigsaw of the same diameter as the post.
I inserted the finished semi-finished product from under the post.
Any leaks that occur at the points where the post and the box come into contact must be sealed. Waterproof sealants or assembly adhesives can be used. And then all that remains is to fill the cup with a suitable liquid. I used used lawnmower oil, other animals find it stinky.
From my own experience, I can confirm that ants have never overcome these traps, nor have they even tried very hard to do so. Moreover, it is an all-season maintenance-free solution.
Protection against ants, a hive on a stand
Photo by Rosťa Kýros
Protection against ants, a hive on a stand - details
Photo by Rosťa Kýros
Checks
During a hive inspection, there are several things to check, as we will describe in the chapter<Běžné kontroly úlku – připravujeme > .
When checking your ant protection , make sure that:
- The liquid/filling of the bowls has not dried out, is not flooded with water, full of insects, or other material.
- The adhesive strips are not dried out, clogged with insects, or other material.
- Ant protection is not dangerous to the inhabitants of the hive for some reason.
- No part of the shelter touches a place where ants could bypass the protection (for example, an absorbent cloth touches a corner of a wall).
- Observe the surroundings of the hive for a moment and the movement of the ants, see if you can see them moving away from and towards the hive.