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Thread: Ants in buckets... should I pull my taps?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Afton, Minnesota
    Posts
    18

    Default Ants in buckets... should I pull my taps?

    This is my second year tapping my black walnut trees. Yesterday when checked the buckets there were a few ants on 4 of my 15 buckets. There was very little sap in the buckets so I planned on rinsing the buckets today and collect more sap this week since it looks like we'll have a few days with colder evening temps. When I went to rinse the buckets today I found that most have a lot of ants in them as well as on the spiles so I'm thinking I should maybe call it a year and pull the taps. Black walnuts produce much less sap compared to maples but I was happy last year getting 20 gallons of sap from 10 trees. This year I added another 5 buckets but have only collected 15 gallons so far and was hoping to get a bit more. The trees have not started budding yet and the sap is still dripping slowly but I'm not sure what to do because of the ants. I filter the sap before boiling but am wondering if anyone has any other recommendations for me. Thanks for your help!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    Filter them out and keep going. Do you need freezing nights to have the black walnut trees run? Just call it the anut run. Next should be the moth run.
    Regard,
    Chris
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
    12" SIRO Filter Press.
    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
    One Golden named Maggie, Norwegian Forest Cat named Lucy
    Too many Cub Cadets
    Ford Jubilee and several Allis WD's, and IH tractors
    1932 Ford AAB ton and a half, dump truck

    www.mapleandhoney.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Afton, Minnesota
    Posts
    18

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    Ha! Yes, black walnuts need the freezing nights for a good run. I like your idea of naming the runs... thanks!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Crivitz, WI
    Posts
    88

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    This year I have ants on 4 of my maple taps, they get filtered out pouring into my collection tank.

    Sent from my LM-Q710.FG using Tapatalk
    2013 15 Homemade Taps, Milk Jugs, Turkey Fryer, 3 Gallons Syrup
    2014 Finishing my college degree, looked longingly at the Maples all spring
    2015 26 1/2 Real taps, Milk Jugs, Homemade 20x25 pan on propane, 5+ Gallons Syrup
    2016 50 Taps, Milk Jugs, Homemade 25x48 pan on propane block arch, 8 1/2 Gallons Syrup
    2020 80 Taps, Milk Jugs, 25x48 pan on propane block arch w/preheater, 10 gallons syrup

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