Glossary
A foraging behavior where bees (or other insects) access nectar from flowers without contacting the flower's reproductive parts, thereby obtaining food without providing pollination in return. Nectar robbers typically bite or chew a hole in the base of a flower's corolla to access the nectary directly.
In normal flower visits, bees enter through the front of the flower, brush against the anthers (picking up pollen) and stigma (depositing pollen) while accessing the nectar reward. This exchange of food for pollination service is the foundation of the bee-flower relationship.
Nectar robbers shortcut this system. Primary robbers (usually bumble bees with strong mandibles) bite holes in the side or base of tubular flowers, creating a back door to the nectary. Secondary robbers (including honey bees) then use these pre-made holes to access nectar without ever entering the flower properly. In both cases, the bee gets fed but the flower does not get pollinated.
Nectar robbing is common in flowers with deep tubular shapes where nectar is difficult for short-tongued bees to access legitimately. Plants like comfrey, trumpet vine, and salvia are frequently robbed. While it might seem harmful to the plant, research suggests that moderate levels of nectar robbing do not significantly reduce plant reproduction because legitimate pollinators still visit.
For beekeepers, nectar robbing is simply another fascinating example of honey bee adaptability. Bees are pragmatic foragers that maximize caloric return per unit of energy spent. If a hole in the base of a flower provides faster nectar access than crawling through the front, the bees will take the shortcut.
Honey bees are primarily secondary nectar robbers, meaning they use holes already created by larger insects (usually bumble bees) rather than creating holes themselves. However, honey bees can act as primary robbers on some thin-petaled flowers.
Research suggests moderate nectar robbing does not significantly harm plant reproduction. Flowers typically receive enough legitimate visits from other pollinators to ensure adequate pollination. Some studies even suggest robbing may increase flower visitation by depleting nectar, prompting flowers to produce more.
Nectar robbing is a foraging behavior where bees access flower nectar through holes. Hive robbing is when bees from one colony steal honey stores from another colony. They are completely different behaviors despite sharing the word robbing.
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