HI Bee Guys and Gals, I have one hive that the ants are in. Put it on a new stand today and could see the big black ants making a trip from bottom into the top one right after another. Do any of you have good suggestions for dealin with this problem. Someone mentioned putting the legs of the stand in small cans of oil...vegie oil or recyled auto oil.....Any ideas are welcome. I learned the hard way that the best time to work the hives is in the heat of the day when the bees are busiest.....we had been working them in the cool of the evening and found they were really testy. Today worked them in hot PNW weather..all of 70'....and other than about melted in the bee suit, I wasn't stung at all...but my husband who stood back some distance at my beck and call (just joking) ended up getting stung in the chest. That's why he doesn't do his bees....and I have gotten "stuck" doing his hobby! The bees love him.....nail him every time he gets near and he doesn't wear after shave or any of that stuff....could be his bald shiney head that attracts their attention! Thanks guys for all the good info..and especially to those who have responded to some of my questions.. We now have 4 hives with 4 supers on two and three on two...having started out with 2 boxes of bees in April..never dreaming there was this much work to beekeeping! Thanks, Meri