Elevated hive stands with grease

Place hives on stands 15-30 cm (6-12 in) off the ground and coat each stand leg with a 5-8 cm band of food-grade grease or petroleum jelly. Ants cannot cross the sticky barrier, cutting off their primary access route to the colony.

Why It Works

Ants rely on continuous ground-to-hive contact to establish pheromone trails. Elevation removes direct ground access, and the grease band traps or repels any ants that attempt to climb the legs. Together, these two barriers eliminate the trail connection, causing scout ants to abandon the route.

Tips

• Use food-grade grease or petroleum jelly to avoid contaminating hive products
• Reapply grease every 2-4 weeks, or immediately after heavy rain or dust buildup
• Wrap legs with duct tape before greasing for easier cleanup and reapplication
• Place stands on level ground to prevent tipping and ensure all legs are evenly coated