Not only are the Ants attacking my Honey Bees again, they’ve made my Chuck BEEly Hive into their evil lair!  Come on ladies!  You were once part of Azzza Hive, my strongest and fiercest hive of Honey Bees!  In your old hive you wouldn’t let itty bitty Sugar Ants invade your territory and steal your precious food.  Where is your fighting spirit to keep these ne’er-do-wells out?

In my last update, Dad had started the process of splitting the fast growing Azzza Hive into two colonies so they’d have more space to thrive.  Last year we had a lot of success splitting the hives.  This year not so much.  Early on there were signs that the Honey Bees we relocated to the Chuck BEEly Hive were working on making a Queen.  However, it appears none have assumed leadership.  Instead there are only a few Nurse Bees hanging out in that hive, laying eggs, but no sign of her Royal Highness.  Also there are no signs of active nectar production, as their precious stores of food we gave them continues to dwindle.

There are though signs that not only have Sugar Ants invaded that hive, they’ve moved in and are making themselves at home!  These relentless sugar fiends are helping themselves to the honey and sugar water we put in that hive for our Bees’ nourishment.  Not only that, they are burrowing into the combs for their colony.  Worst yet, my Honey Bees have no fighting spirit, and have let the Ants split their hive into a duplex!  The Ants appear to be living in one area of the hive, with the few remaining Bees in another.  I’m all for coexisting, but this is ridiculous!

I know I’m partly to blame for the invasion.  I took a few days off from monitoring the hives, and a leaf fell into the moat we created to protect them.  These 6 legged opportunists took advantage of the situation and quickly marched their forces on the leaf, over the water, and into the hive overwhelming the leaderless Bees.  Ok, I admit that my Honey Bees didn’t completely throw their wings in the air and surrender.  There are signs of queen cells in their attempt to gain a rightful heir to the throne to lead them into battle.  But by the time she matures in the customary 16 days, the Sugar Ants will have set up housekeeping and there’s no evicting them without harsh chemicals that could hurt my Bees!

Luckily for us the other three hives are all strong and are keeping any Ants that trespass at bay.  In the meantime, Dad is working on a plan to outsmart future invading Ants by building an even better system than moats.  Based on the sketch he drew, it involves pipes and grease!  I think he should also add a giant rolling boulder to squish these raiders, but Dad seems to be ignoring my idea.  However, none of this will save my floundering Chuck BEEly Hive.  So it is with a heavy heart I admit that I may not have a hive named in my honor this summer.  Godspeed brave Honey Bees who continue to try to make a go of the split and start a new life in my hive.  Paws crossed that Azzza, Lemmeez, and Dire Wolf Beez Hives continue to thrive.