Robbing: when other colonies come for the honey

When flowering thins in the dry months, colonies begin targeting one another. A weak colony being robbed by a stronger one is common, and it can end with the weak one leaving.

Signs it is happening

• An unusually dense, disorderly crowd in front of the entrance, instead of the tidy in-and-out stream.
• Bees fighting on the front face of the box, small dead bees around the stand legs.
• Bees flying along the box probing for gaps rather than heading straight for the entrance.
• It peaks mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Why it often starts after a harvest

Honey spilled on the outside of the box during harvesting is a signal that carries. At the same time, a colony that has just been opened is less able to guard its entrance. This is why the box must be wiped clean immediately after harvesting.

How to stop it

• Temporarily reduce the entrance to a single bee width with a small restrictor. The resident colony can then defend it far more easily.
• Place a small baffle just in front of the entrance so intruders must find a way around.
• Wipe away every trace of honey from the box and the stand.
• Do not harvest other colonies in the same area during these days.

The underlying cause

Robbing is a symptom of a hungry season. Planting shrubs that flower through the dry months, and not keeping more colonies than the garden's forage can support, are the only long-term fixes.

Frequently asked

Should I move the robbed colony?

Only if it persists and the colony is declining fast. Relocation carries its own risks, so try reducing the entrance first.

Do honey bees rob stingless bees?

They can, and being much larger they are very dangerous to a stingless colony. If keeping both, site them well apart.

How long should the entrance stay reduced?

Until the behaviour stops, usually one to two weeks. Reopen gradually rather than all at once.