Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
Formicidae spp.
Ants
Ants can enter weak colonies, rob food, disturb bees, and damage material when access points are easy to exploit.
Agent
Formicidae spp.
Notifiable in Portugal
No
Signs to watch for
Adult bees
- Ant trails
- Ants inside covers or feeders
- Food robbing
- Restless bees
Brood
- Food robbery
- Disturbance
- Localized comb or material damage
Colony
- Ground contact
- Exposed food
- Weak colonies
- Dense vegetation
Confirmation and identification
Field observation and monitoring
- Visible trails
- High movement around hive supports
- Colonies established under or near equipment
- Inspect hive stands and access routes
- Track trail intensity
- Check whether robbing is persistent
Laboratory methods
- Choose measures that do not expose bees to toxic baits or residues.
Control and impact reduction
Good practices
- Break access routes
- Use physical barriers
- Clean disturbed areas
Prevention
- Keep supports clean
- Remove exposed feed sources
- Manage vegetation
- Strengthen weak colonies
- Toxic baits accessible to bees
- Poisons inside the hive
Ongoing monitoring
Indicators
- Affected hives
- Trail intensity
Recommended frequency
- Monitor more closely during warm periods and whenever food sources are exposed.