Greg Hankins wrote:
 
> How big a problem *are* ants? Aside from being counter-cosmetic, what kind
> of damage are they likely to do to my bees or their products?
 
I have one yard in which medium sized black and red ants are invading
every hive.  The bees retreat within the hive to avoid them and are
gradually dwindling.  I reduced the hive openings as small as possible
(and blocked up all other cracks with duct tape) to try to discourage
ants from entering the hive or using the opening used by bees.  Masses
of ants collect on the bottom boards and carry away pollen balls,
granulated honey, dead bees, etc.  I have not seen them actually
attack bees in the hive but I do see them do this on the landing board
and in the grass in front of the hive.  They grab the bee's legs and
the bee is defenseless against something that small.
 
That is the worst case.  The other ant problem I have quite often is
with carpenter ants.  They are large black ones which tunnel into the
brood chamber and super wood, eventually rendering it too fragile to
support an internal load.  They nest in huge numbers on top of the
inner cover, but whenever they are present the bees stop up the inner
cover hole with propolis to keep them out of the hive.  When I open
the cover, however, this seal is broken and a living torrent of ants
floods over and down the hive surface and also into the hole in the
inner cover.
 
I hate ants.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA