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The phenomenon of theft between bee colonies and to deal with them.


      The phenomenon of robbing is usually ingrained in strong bee colonies, where they attack weak colonies to steal the honey present in them. This happens during times when nectar sources are scarce outside. Several factors encourage the occurrence of robbing, such as leaving the hives open for too long during inspection, not properly sealing them, exposing feeders full of sugar solution for long periods in the apiary, feeding certain colonies without others, or feeding at different times rather than uniformly. Additionally, offering wax combs with some honey can lead to robbing, so they should be emptied of honey before adding them to the colony, especially when storing them after the collection season. These combs should be offered clean and empty when added to the colonies during the egg-laying season. Robbing can lead to the destruction of a large number of bees, the death of the queen, or the spread of diseases between colonies as a result.



How to Identify Robbing Bees

      Robbing bees can be identified by their flight in front of the hive with their legs extended forward, trying to enter the hive. They clash with the guard bees, which leads to many casualties that can be seen on the flight board and in front of the hive. The robbed colony produces a distinct, strong buzzing sound. When the robbing bee leaves the hive loaded with honey, it flies sluggishly in a non-straight line, unlike normal foraging behavior, and robbing bees tend to sting aggressively.




How to Combat Robbing Between Bee Colonies (Robbing Bees)

       To combat robbing between colonies, you must address the causes that encourage it, as mentioned earlier, in addition to taking the following precautions: -

  1. Ensure that all bee colonies are of equal strength, as weak colonies are prone to robbing by strong colonies. Read Reasons for Weak Bee Colonies and How to Strengthen Them.
  2. Narrow the hive entrance during the nectar dearth period using grass, so the guard bees can easily protect it, and seal any cracks or holes in the wood. Read Feeding Bee Colonies During Different Seasons.
  3. Do not leave hives open for too long and make sure the hive cover is secured tightly.
  4. Feed all hives at the same time and always before sunset.
  5. Spray robbing bees during their attack with a diluted solution of water and salt using a sprayer. Also, spray the flight board of the attacked colony with this solution to prevent robbing bees from entering.
  6. Move the hive if the robbing continues to another location after sealing the entrance with fresh grass. Place an empty hive with some honeycomb or a container of sugar solution in its place to trap the robbing bees and prevent further robbing among the colonies. For more information, read Moving Hives from One Place to Another in the Apiary and Beyond.
  7. Kill the robbing bees using calcium cyanide by placing it on the base of a new hive that is placed in place of the weak hive.
  8. Compensate for the lost food in the colony by feeding with concentrated sugar solutions. Feeders should be provided in the late afternoon and in the morning the next day to prevent the sugar solution from fermenting and spoiling. To avoid infecting bees with bee diseases, feeders should be washed before placing the sugar solution in them.

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