Sundog
House Bee
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Location: Florida Suncoast
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« on: October 02, 2012, 06:01:20 PM » |
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A few weeks ago the bees were all over the outside of the hive, and then they were not. When I looked there were very few bees but I did find some burnt biscuit so I hoped they would recover their losses. I looked today and alas the Carpenter Ants had taken over the hive. We have had a lot of rain and the vegetation was too close to the hive and the Beek was asleep at the switch. And so ends my first hive. I did salvage a bit of clean honey, put what honey was left after that out for my other (Lang) hive, and threw the bars and dark wax away. There was very little sign of SHB and moths, only one or two of each. I’m kind of depressed about it. I raised them from a very small and gentle cutout last year to a thriving colony earlier this year only to have them leave. They were not honey bound, if anything I gave them too much room too fast. Why, why, oh why? Okay, the ants were not cool, but when their numbers were strong, they managed quite well. Ah well, I am kind of “honey bound” myself, since I don’t sell any. Still having fun! http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1234.jpg http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1242.jpg http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1232.jpg http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1244.jpg http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/Bee%20Stuff/DSCN1237.jpg |
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Joe D
Queen Bee
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« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2012, 01:15:32 AM » |
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Sorry to hear of your loss, Sundog.
Joe
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Sundog
House Bee
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Location: Florida Suncoast
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« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2012, 11:38:11 AM » |
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I have decided that my top bar adventure is over. The box and top are available free to anyone that would like it. All you will need is bars and bees. I only have room for two hives, so I have decided to go with two Langs. http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/DSCN0721.jpg Send PM if interested. Have fun! |
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Larry Bees
Field Bee
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« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2012, 11:46:34 AM » |
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I also was asleep at the switch earlier this year and I lost 1 hive and 2 nucs to those darn carpenter ants.
About a month ago I caught them attacking another nuc and I took care of them for good.
Sorry about your loss! I know how you feel.
Larry
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Larry Bees
Field Bee
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Location: Mims, Florida
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« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2012, 05:20:49 PM » |
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Sundog,
I found their nest was between 2 of my hives and I sprayed them with Bayer Advanced Carpenter Ant & Termite Killer Plus. I buy it in the 1 gal concentrate size and I mix it with water. I always make it stronger than they recommend but it kills them on contact. I bought mine at Lowes. They also have a gallon size that is already mixed, but I haven't used it. The concentrate is rather expensive, but it will make many gallons of spray.
Don't spray it too close to the hives as the vapor will get into the hives and kill your bees. I once had Carpenter Ants in the wall of my work shop and I sprayed this solution at the bottom of the wall and the ants almost immediately started falling down dead. It's good stuff !
Larry
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Sundog
House Bee
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Location: Florida Suncoast
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« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2012, 06:16:15 PM » |
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Great! Thanks Larry, I will give it a try.
I have CAs getting in through my bathroom window too. I spray regularly but they always come back. I will see if I can find THEIR hives and declare war upon them.
Bayer appears to be leading the way in garden stuff. I got some Bayer Advance All-In-One Flower and Rose Care the other day 'cause the gardener at Home Depot recommended it so highly. I put in on my roses today (waited for the rains to pass), also pricey, but should go a long way too (if my wife doesn't see it).
Having fun!
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kathyp
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« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2012, 08:00:50 PM » |
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I have CAs getting in through my bathroom window too got some dry rot in the wall? |
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"Nay, it [this constitution of government] must perish, if there be not that vital spirit in the people, which alone can nourish, sustain, and direct all its movements. It is in vain, that statesmen shall form plans of government, in which the beauty and harmony of a republic shall be embodied in visible order, shall be built up on solid substructions, and adorned by every useful ornament, if the inhabitants suffer the silent power of time to dilapidate its walls, or crumble its massy supporters into dust; if the assaults from without are never resisted, and the rottenness and mining from within are never guarded against. Who can preserve the rights and liberties of the people, when they shall be abandoned by themselves? Who shall keep watch in the temple, when the watchmen sleep at their posts? Who shall call upon the people to redeem their possessions, and revive the republic, when their own hands have deliberately and corruptly surrendered them to the oppressor, and have built the prisons, or dug the graves of their own friends?
– Justice Joseph Story, "Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States," Volume II, Chapter XIII: Mode of Passing Laws, Sections 900-901, pp. 364 (1833)
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Sundog
House Bee
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Location: Florida Suncoast
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« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2012, 12:12:05 AM » |
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got some dry rot in the wall?
Nah, cinder block and stucco. They come in looking for water, my wife loves hot steamy showers. The CAs (I've also heard them called Bull Ants) love it damp. Ants are tough down here, once had a Fire Ant system that streched 60 feet from my tree to the creek. Didn't notice it until my daughter stood in it. I don't like to use chemicals near the creek, but they had to go! Great fun! |
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Cheech
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Location: Kingston, Jamaica
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« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2012, 11:38:02 AM » |
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sorry bout the TBH
I too lost a TBH cutout earlier this year to ants.
In the shady, more wooded areas, big (1/2") red ants rule.
I had the cutout in a TBH nuc, found some SHB and thought I would put them into a TBH with screened bottom.
Bad Idea!!! the next day there were no bees and a box full of ants.
All my other hives are solid bottoms and only one entry hole 3/4" dia.
So far, no problems with SHB or Ants in any of them.
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