🔶 Repairing Poly Hives 🐝

[@oskarschuster3124]

Hi Tony Danke für den interessanten Beitrag. Habe mir gerade eine Bee Honeybox gekauft. Ich muss nun schauen, was die Vorteile zu den "normalen" Styroporboxen sind. Ich habe Zanderformat, dass kennt man in den USA wahrscheinlich nicht. Grüsse vom Bodensee🇨🇭

[@tonywestsbees6042]

Thanks for watching

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Wow the ants would have been the last thing I would have thought that would damage it . Thanks

[@tonywestsbees6042]

They get in between the boxes and dig into the polystyrene and absolutely destroy the boxes. I have two more to repair. If the ants open into the inside of the hive, the bees will pack those holes with propolis to seal it back up. This year I have a concentrated effort to eliminate the ants. On a similar note, larger carpenter ants will destroy wood bottom boards and boxes too.

[@dawndominick2833]

Have you ever heard of a product called AntCant? It is sold on Amazon (but probably other places too). I used it last summer and it worked GREAT. Far exceeded my expectations. You put a strip of aluminum tape around each hive stand leg (I used about a 3" wide strip). Then you lightly spray it with AntCant. I re-sprayed it about once every six weeks. Even after heavy rains, it did not need to be sprayed again. When I did spray again after six weeks, it was still working fine, so I probably could've gone longer. You would just have to observe how long you get in between spraying for your area. It is too slippery for the ants (or anything else) to crawl over and the ants give up and go away. I had ZERO ants getting in my hives. Might save on repairs! I'm switching to poly hives this year, so I really enjoyed your vid on how to repair them--thank you!

[@tonywestsbees6042]

Thanks. I have never heard of that product, I will check it out. I did put some Terro bait stations around the stands this year and it greatly reduced the ant problems. Good luck with the poly hives. I like them quite a bit.

[@dawndominick2833]

@@tonywestsbees6042 Thanks-I’m looking forward to seeing how my bees like them. Let Bee Season begin (3 more months)!! 😁🐝

[@victoraquino1172]

Hi Tony i was wondering what is the name of the epoxy you used for the repair thank you

[@tonywestsbees6042]

I used an automotive catalyzed body filler that had a fiber filler. Once done, sealed with a couple coats of exterior enamel paint. It worked well. Thanks for watching.

[@victoraquino1172]

Thank you for the response

[@rusticlifefarm6264]

I had same issue with piss ants but before they got bad I tried cinnamon in those areas. Didn't think it would work but Man they stayed OUT ! Just sprinkle a line right where it is flat before it is raised- bottom board and between each box & Lid. It does work up here in MASS. I also get ants (big and piss ants) in the wood tops but NOT on the wood tops made from that Green Zip Sheathing- go figure

[@tonywestsbees6042]

I'll give it a try this year

[@beebob1279]

What brand styrene hive do you have

[@tonywestsbees6042]

Paradise Honey Bee Box, made in Finland and sold thru Blue Sky. Small ant is really the only real issue with them.