View Full Version : Fighting
Carl F
08-20-2008, 06:25 PM
I just made my first post about an hour ago but when I was out mowing I saw someting that made me run back to ask this question... There are about 12 to 15 separate fights taking place on the landing board and on the ground in front of my hive (only have one--my first started from a package this spring). Generally there are two bees attacking one but in sometimes more or less. The bees being attacked seem a bit smaller and their appearance differs slightly in a couple of ways from the workers that I am used to seeing. There are still plenty of bees coming and going from the hive and workers fanning at the entrance while the bouts take place all around. Robbers? Young drones being ousted?? Olympic spirit??? (I live in south-central PA.)
BjornBee
08-20-2008, 07:03 PM
Many times robber bees are smaller bees with black abdomens. We are basically in a dearth right now with many bees testing other hives. So minimize the entrance.
If it is robbing, you will be able to see it at first light. Robber bees will be back at the hive as soon as they can, many times just as the sun is coming up. Many hives are a bit lethargic on cool nights and the robbers can take advantage.
If you think it might be robbing you've got to act fast.
If feeding with a front entrance feeder stop and feed internally. Reduce your entrance to the smallest possible. You might even have to close completely for a day or two. Get or build a robber screen. (Here is one for sale brushymountainbeefarm.com/prodinfo.asp?number=517 and here are some pictures you can use to build your own bushfarms.com/beesmisc.htm#robberscreen
I was slow to act and lost 3 hives last month. Just starting to build back up the one I saved. Hope you have better luck.
Carl F
08-21-2008, 12:02 PM
Many times robber bees are smaller bees with black abdomens...
The alleged robbers are smaller and have more black on the base of their abdomen instead of the bands that my workers have. Their wings also seem to stick out more to the sides of their bodies than swept back along the abdomen when they are walking. Any idea what kind of bees these are and where they are coming from? As I said, I have only one hive and I have no idea where the next nearest beekeeper is. Are they "wild" bees?