Glossary
The behavior of forager bees from one colony forcibly entering another colony's hive to steal stored honey. Robbing typically occurs during nectar dearths when natural food sources are scarce and is directed at weaker colonies that cannot adequately defend their entrance.
Robbing is triggered by the combination of abundant bee population (lots of unemployed foragers) and scarce nectar sources. When nectar flows end abruptly, thousands of experienced foragers are suddenly without a food source. If these foragers detect the scent of honey from a nearby hive (especially a weak one), they will attempt to steal it.
Beekeeper actions can inadvertently trigger robbing: spilling honey or syrup near hives, performing prolonged inspections that expose honey frames during dearth periods, using open feeders that attract bees from all colonies in the area, and failing to clean up extraction equipment outdoors.
Signs of robbing include frantic flying at the hive entrance, fighting between bees at the entrance, bees investigating cracks and seams in the hive body, dead bees accumulating at the entrance, and a distinctive rasping, buzzing sound different from normal flight. In severe robbing, the robbing colony can strip a weak colony of all food stores in hours.
Emergency intervention: immediately reduce the entrance to a size that 1-2 guard bees can defend. In severe cases, close the entrance entirely (with a screen for ventilation) for 24-48 hours. Drape a wet towel over the hive to confuse incoming robbers. Remove the stimulus by cleaning up any exposed honey or syrup.
Yes. Severe robbing can strip a colony of all food stores in hours, leading to starvation. The fighting at the entrance also kills many defender bees, weakening the colony further. In extreme cases, robbing can kill the queen as defending bees are overwhelmed.
Normal returning foragers land confidently on the landing board and walk directly in. Robbing bees hover hesitantly at the entrance, dart side to side seeking unguarded entry points, and may wrestle with guard bees. The overall energy at the entrance feels frantic rather than purposeful.
Yes. Robbing is a significant vector for disease transmission between colonies. Robbing bees carry pathogens (particularly American foulbrood spores and varroa mites) from infected colonies back to their home colonies. This is one reason why diseased colonies should be dealt with promptly rather than allowed to die slowly and be robbed out.
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