Hi all

Often when removing the outer cover on a hive, I disturb large black  
ants ( usually 50-100 so it’s not their nest) on the inner cover.  
They scurry around each carrying an egg trying to find someplace to  
hide out of the light. They don’t seem to be doing anything to the  
hive or bees, likely it’s a warm place to hatch the eggs.  They do,  
however, disturb the hive if some drop into the hive or escape down  
the front of the hive where they approach the hive entrance, when the  
inner cover is removed.

I checked the archives and found several mentions of the same problem  
along with some suggested chemical solutions.  I don't want to use  
pesticides near my bees, but would like to understand why ants would  
leave their nest with eggs to end up on top of a beehive.  Any ant  
experts out there?

Bob Darrell
Caledon Ontario
Canada
44N80W
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