persistent robbing

[phill]

For as long as I've been keeping bees-- 15+ years now-- I've had problems with robbing. Even strong hives are attacked, even with severely reduced entrances and/or robbing fences. The strong hives can fight off the robbers, but it takes a toll.

This year I think I've found a pattern. I'll see an unusual number of bees buzzing around my property: around the house, vehicles, outdoor furniture-- places where I wouldn't ordinarily see them. It seems they're looking around; I'm pretty sure they're not my bees. If I notice this in time, I go to the apiary, and sure enough there are signs the robbing has begun. If I just toss a tarp over the hive that's being robbed, that calms things down, and within 15-20 minutes I'm not seeing all those bees around the house anymore.

Does this make sense: That there are roving gangs of robbers somewhere in my neighborhood? Do others have this problem, year after year?

If so, is there anything I can do to discourage them, other than making sure my hives aren't vulnerable?

[The15thMember]

I've been having horrible robbing this fall too, although I think it's stemming from within the apiary, as I just had a hive collapse.  If you have other beekeepers in your area, it's quite possible that another colony from somewhere within 3 miles of you has learned to target your apiary if they have success.  And if you don't have other beekeepers around, it could be a feral colony.  In my experience, keeping the robbers from succeeding in the first place is the key.  If they get a taste of success, they'll keep coming back, and they'll stay in the robbing frame of mind instead of returning to foraging.  If I were you, I'd put robbing screens on your colonies before your dearth starts and keep them on until winter. 

[Terri Yaki]

I had some unusual bee activity here last week as well. They were flying around the house where they usually don't and there was a lot of activity around the hive. I got the hose out and made it rain for a few minutes and things calmed down. It did take a while though. Then I closed my upper entrance and I have my homemade mouse guard on the lower one on top of a medium entrance. All seems to be OK for now. It almost seems like they're enjoying my mouse guard, it looks like they're playing on it.

[Lesgold]

As sources of nectar diminish, bees will be searching every possible location for food. When a dearth hits, eventually robbing will start. Robbers will come from feral hives as well as your own bees. They are all coping with the same situation. It sounds like you live in an area where you have distinct seasonal flows followed by periods where nothing  at all comes in. This should be reasonably predictable unless weather conditions are variable.

[The15thMember]

It almost seems like they're enjoying my mouse guard, it looks like they're playing on it.

My bees always seem frustrated by mouse guards, and traffic always seems to back up when I have them on, since the bees have to step over the lip of the holes to get in.  They also do this dumb thing where they squeeze through the tiny little hole provided in the guard so you can tack it to the bottom board, even though the larger entrance holes are available.   

[Terri Yaki]

Here's how I have my mouse guards attached to this hive. Same as the other one, it's plastic but if I have a mouse problem, I'll know it. And I have a medium entrance on under that. There is no backup on the porch. I can't see what it's like at the entrance but there wasn't a big backup at it before I mounted the mouse guard. It's just held in place with some black putty I had laying around. Those are 1/2" holes in it.

[Ben Framed]

As sources of nectar diminish, bees will be searching every possible location for food. When a dearth hits, eventually robbing will start. Robbers will come from feral hives as well as your own bees. They are all coping with the same situation. It sounds like you live in an area where you have distinct seasonal flows followed by periods where nothing  at all comes in. This should be reasonably predictable unless weather conditions are variable.

Thumbs Up. I agree with your reasoning Les.

[beesnweeds]

If so, is there anything I can do to discourage them, other than making sure my hives aren't vulnerable?

I don't have any problems with robbing unless a hive gets weak.  One thing you can try is dampening a towel or sheet with a mild solution of pine sol and drape it over the hive.  If it's as persistent as you say, I would place an empty hive box on top of the hives that are being robbed.  Bait it and put a wire cone trap in it over a 1 or 3/4 hole and trap them.  You could kill them or let them settle down a few days and paper combine them with the hive.

[phill]

It sounds like you live in an area where you have distinct seasonal flows followed by periods where nothing  at all comes in. This should be reasonably predictable unless weather conditions are variable.

You're right; I can pretty much tell when the robbing is likely to start. So I put up screens, reduce openings-- and they come anyway. Frustrating.

[phill]

If so, is there anything I can do to discourage them, other than making sure my hives aren't vulnerable?

I don't have any problems with robbing unless a hive gets weak.  One thing you can try is dampening a towel or sheet with a mild solution of pine sol and drape it over the hive.  If it's as persistent as you say, I would place an empty hive box on top of the hives that are being robbed.  Bait it and put a wire cone trap in it over a 1 or 3/4 hole and trap them.  You could kill them or let them settle down a few days and paper combine them with the hive.

Thanks; I'll try that.

[Michael Bush]

It's certainly possible that the robbers are from somewhere else.  It's also possible they are from your hives.  Bees looking around is indicative of a dearth.  During a flow they spend little time looking and most of their time foraging.  When foraging they make straight line trips to the flowers and back.  When there's a dearth they are looking for any source of nectar or sugar or maybe pollen.

[Michael Bush]

In recent years I have reduced all my entrances all the time.  This has helped a lot.  Other things:
https://bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm

[NigelP]

May I suggest tunnel entrances. I find them extremely effective against yellowjackets and robbing.  I use them in all my nucs as, come fal,l they will be robbed mercilessly....the fact  they aren't pays testament to their design. The idea is that bees find it easier to defend a long tunnel against invadors rather an entrance slit, where a robber can squeeze inside and and then is in.
Things like these hivegates.

[Michael Bush]

Where do you buy these?  I like the looks of that.  It's about the size of my current opening, but the tunnel has several benefits including blocking the draft at the door.

[NigelP]

In the Uk I get them from Thornes, a major bee company. They are of new zealand origin, suggest google hivegate and USA stockists. But simple to make your own.