Robbing ?????

[mgates61]

I've read about it.....but still don't get it......

SOmeone please explain to me what robbing is and what the negative effects are.

[Jerrymac]

Robbing is when you have a weak hive and bees from other hives are taking all of their honey. This causes fights resulting in the death of a bunch of bees and a hive left with no honey and doomed to starve.

[Understudy]

Robbing is just what it says it is. The theft of something that belongs to someone else.

Bees from another hive send raiding parties into another hive and steal their honey. You can usually tell because the bees fight on the landing board and there will be fresh dead bees on the ground. There are lots of bees in the air around the hive. But be careful.

Don't confuse a robbing with an orientation flight. In the afternoon large number of bees that have become old enough to collect pollen and nectar go on orientation flights. They try to get a sense of direction as to wear home is. The difference is there aren't large numbers of bees fighting on the landing board. Also the flight pattern seems almost circular in it's pattern. It usually takes place at the same time each day also. keep your eyes open.  :)

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[mgates61]

Ok....Makes sense now....thanks.

[mgates61]

SO....when this happens....is there any way to save the hive or is it doomed ?????

[Understudy]

If you see robbing put in the entrance reducer to it's smallest opening. If you don't have one. Put grass and pine needles in entrance leaving about a 1" opening in one corner.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[annette]

Read the posts here on robbing. Do a search. There are many ways to stop robbing. There are also robbing screens you can place on the front of the hive which let the bees from the hive out, but do not let the robbing bees in.

In very bad robbing situations, "Beekeeping for Dummies" book said to place a wet sheet over the hive all the way down to the ground.

Annette

[mgates61]

I have my copy of "Beekeeping for Dummies" ordered.  Should get it this week. 

Thanks for the advice.

[tillie]

I read a post on Beesource that suggests that one open all the hives when robbing is going on - then the bees return home to defend their own home and the robbing stops...... :evil:

Also you can spray water, faking rain and that often stops it.

Personally, the only time I had robbing from a viable hive, I built robber screens and put them on both of my hives....

Linda T in Atlanta

[Cindi]

Linda, now that sure did put an interesting spin on the robbing of the bees.  Sounds like it really would work, but I think that I will stick to something that is a little less harsh, like the robber screens, reducing entrances, etc.  Great and wonderful day, Cindi

[Jerrymac]

I have wondered about that opening of hives. That might stop your bees from robbing but what if there are other bees in the area?

[tillie]

Here's a link to one of the explanations about opening the hives on Beesource:

http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213997&highlight=robbing

Linda T in Atlanta

[Cindi]

Linda, hmmm..now that was an interesting thread.  Seemed that tactic worked for Jim, good.  Have a wonderful, great day, Cindi

[Understudy]

I also recommend the water sprinkler method. I have used it with great success.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[qa33010]

   At least our days and nights are going to start cooling down again and get closer to normal.  I use robber screens, entrance reducers and when needed water sprinkler.  Of course with the rain we're getting right now the bees are all inside.  If it's really bad you may want to close the entrance at night and wait a day or two to open it up again.  This has worked when I really needed it as a last ditch.  If the hive is light (the one getting robbed last year was) I added a super and put in two entrance feeders.  Almost a gallon gone in a day and they ate once more the next day took longer.  That hive made some gooood honey this year.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm