Farmnote 6/99 : Ant and termite control in the apiary

Ant and termite control in the apiary

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By Lee Allan, Senior Apiculturist, Animal Research and Development Services, South Perth

Summary
Outlines hygiene, insecticide methods and products, and ant stands for ant control in the apiary. Discusses apiary designs which reduce termite attack.

Ants
Ants in sufficient numbers can cause problems in the apiary by weakening hives or even destroying whole colonies. Strong hives can usually resist any attacks but weak hives are usually the first to succumb. Generally, small ants forage for sugary substances and are natually attracted to the honey stored in the hive. Larger ants such as meat ants are attracted to animal or insect materials. Meat ants in particular feed on bees, dead or alive, and even young bees in the cells where the hive has died out.

Hygiene
Some hygiene is needed for ant control to be effective. q Site the apiary on cleared ground, away from rocks and fallen timber, which are natural nesting places for ants. q Honey and burr comb left on the ground will attract ants to the apiary. q Remove dead hives or stack and fumigate them in the apiary, so that there is no longer a food source to attract ants.

Insecticides
If ants are still a problem after taking normal hygiene measures, they can be controlled using insecticides. Spraying is the most effective control method if ants are known to be a

Farmnote 6/99 : Ant and termite control in the apiary

problem at the apiary site. Spray two weeks before establishing the apiary, not while the hives are present. If a serious ant problem develops, move the apiary while the area is sprayed and do not return the hives for two weeks. Spraying will control most types of ants. It is particularly effective for controlling small ants where nests are numerous and hard to find. The recommended spray is chlorpyrifos, for example, 95 mL of Dursban P.C. Termiticide and Insecticide in 10 L of water, applied with a knapsack spray or watering can at the rate of 1 L per 10 square metres. For meat ants, whose nests may be up to 100 metres away from the apiary, spot treatment of nests with insecticide dusts is effective. Diazinon dusts are available in puffer packs, such as Hortico Ant Dust and David Grays Ant Dust.

N Warning N
q q q

Apply insecticide sprays and dusts to the apiary area with caution and avoid drift. Read instructions on the insecticide label before use. Wear protective clothing. Use overalls, boots, rubber gloves and a respirator. If chemical is spilled on skin or clothing, remove the clothing and wash the skin area with soap and water. Change into clean clothing for further work. Where chemical sprays are to be used on private property or farms, the owner's permission should be sought to prevent residues in livestock. The application of insecticides on potable and stock water catchment areas is prohobited.

Note: For safe and correct use of all chemicals, please read the pesticide label thoroughly before purchase and application.

Farmnote 6/99 : Ant and termite control in the apiary

Table 1. Products registered for controlling ants Constituent name alpha-cypermethrin betacycfluthrin carbaryl Product name (examples only Fendona 15 SC, Bestoc PC 50 Reponsar Beta SC Bugmaster Flowable, Nufarm Flowable Carbaryl 500 David Grays Chlorpyrifos 500, Dursban PC, Deter, Farmoz Strike-out 500 EC, Chemspray Chlorban, Davidson Chlorpyrifos 500 EC, Clipco Chlorfos, Nufarm Chlorpyrifos 500 EC, Campbell Pyrinex Tugon 100 WP Demon Public Health Insecticide Cislin, Deltaguard Neocid 200P, chemspray Diazinon, David Grays Diazinon, David Grays Ant Dust, Hortico Diazinon Ant Killer Dust, Baytex 550 Demand Insecticide Cooperex, Pestgard, Imperator

chlorpyrifos

cyfluthrin cypermethrin deltamethrin diazinon

fenthion lambda-cyhalothrin permethrin (25:75::cis:trans) permethrin

Amalgamated Pest Control Permethrin Dust

Ant stands
Ant stands are particularly useful for the backyard beekeeper who may not be able to use insecticides where pets may be affected. Make ant stands from timber or metal, with the legs standing in a container of vegetable oil.

Farmnote 6/99 : Ant and termite control in the apiary

Hives on the stand are safe from ant attack. Keep grass and other objects clear of the stand, so that ants cannot bypass the oil.

Termites
Termites are attracted to pine used in hive and frame parts. They can cause considerable damage, particularly if the hive is left for some time. Make the bottom boards of hives from galvanised iron and bend the iron up around the wooden risers. This stops the direct entry of termites into the hive parts. If termites do gain entry, the bridging tunnel of earth shows around the iron on the outside. Also raise the bottom boards about 25 mm off the ground with creosote-treated jarrah cleats nailed to the iron bottom boards. If hives are to remain in one place permanently, place them on concrete slabs. While these measures will reduce the incidence of termite attack, they may not prevent it altogether.

See also
q

Farmnote no. 40/97 'Drywood termites found in Perth' (Agdex 612)

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Disclaimer: This material has been written for Western Australian conditions. Its availability does not imply suitability to other areas, and any interpretation or use is the responsibility of the user. Mention of product or trade names does not imply recommendation, and any omissions are unintentional. Recommendations were current at the time of preparation of the original publication. This file: F00699.HTM Date converted: 24 Feb. 1999 Copyright Chief Executive Officer, Agriculture Western Australia, 1999