Theft from bees

Theft from bees is a problem that almost any beekeeper had to face. It seems to many that beekeeping is quite a profitable business, in fact, it is also a responsible job, since bees can be subjected to various diseases and attacks. If thieving bees were found, it is worth immediately taking measures to eliminate them, otherwise you can lose the bee colony.

Reasons for theft in the apiary

Theft in the apiary among the bees is a peculiar method of extracting honey. In such situations, the hive may lose its queen or die completely in the struggle. Thief bees prefer to take honey by force rather than extract it themselves. Since a large number of bees die during the struggle, there is a chance of losing the entire apiary.

Why do bees attack

There are a number of reasons why bees attack a hive:

1. Most families steal by tradition, as a result of which they get their livelihood only in this way. It seems inappropriate for such individuals to collect pollen every day and process it into honey, it is much easier to attack another hive and take what they want.
2. Most often, theft among bees is common during a drought, when the amount of pollen is not enough to provide for the family. Some beekeepers justify this type of theft, as the bees are trying to survive in every possible way.
3. Often thefts are provoked by beekeepers themselves, collecting hives incorrectly, in which there are gaps that attract other insects.

Sometimes theft becomes spontaneous, and even those families who have never done it before resort to it.

Where do thieving bees come from?

Thief bees often appear in early spring or autumn. At a time when the weather is warm and calm, but, unfortunately, honey plants have already faded or there is no bribe yet. Some regions may experience cool weather, causing the plants to release small amounts of nectar.

It is in this situation that the bees begin to look for additional sources of food. One such method is attacking a weak family. Unfortunately, the main reason for the appearance of thieves is the beekeeper himself, who performs some actions with the hives incorrectly, thereby attracting strangers.

How to distinguish thief bees

It is important to consider that the thief will never enter the hive from the main passage, she will look for existing gaps and small gaps. It is easy to define such an individual:

• the thief buzzes rather loudly;
• flies in zigzags;
• does not fly into the hive, but is actively looking for cracks.

Thief bees must be dealt with as soon as they are discovered. The thief behaves as follows:

• when leaving the hive, it flies as close to the ground as possible so that other individuals cannot notice it;
• there is honey on the belly of the thief, if you lightly press on the bee, it will begin to flow out of the sting.

If the theft is not prevented in a timely manner, then the honey thieves will kill the queen bee.

Attack of the bees

Recognizing a massive attack of thieves bees is not difficult if you pay attention to the following points:

• at the moment when the bees attack the hive, they emit a loud buzz, as during the collection of pollen;
• fly in zigzags, simulating as if they are carrying a large load;
• thieves try to find gaps in the hive and penetrate through them;
• the bee family begins to swarm over the hive, trying to repel the attack;
• there are dead bees around the hive, stings can be found on their body;
• near the hive you can see individuals with worn stripes on the body, which are characteristic of thieves;
• after the attack, the thieves fly as close as possible to the grass;
• the robbed family becomes aggressive.

If you open the hive during the attack, then other people’s bees will quickly leave the crime scene.

How to determine: a flyby of bees is or an attack

As a rule, theft from bees is observed in autumn or spring. It often happens that many beekeepers confuse theft in the apiary with flying bees. Distinguishing overflight from robbery is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. As you know, the flight takes place on warm August days in the interval from 14:00 to 16:00. It is at this time that juveniles make their first flight, which resembles the behavior of thieves. The difference lies in the fact that during the theft, the thief bees fly low above the ground, and the young individuals fly around the hive at a height during the flight.

How to prevent stealing from bees

There are many ways to prevent theft in the apiary. In addition to preventive measures, you can use improvised means, for example, salt or diesel fuel. As many experienced beekeepers note, the smell of diesel fuel can scare away aggressive individuals. For these purposes, it is necessary to moisten a small piece of cloth in diesel fuel and process the outer walls of the hives. In just a couple of minutes, the insects begin to calm down, while there will be no attempts to attack even the next day.

How to get rid of thief bees

If the thieving bees that appear do not belong to the beekeeper and are outsiders, they can be quite easily disposed of. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. The letok is completely isolated and closed.
2. A small tube is inserted into the passage, the diameter of which is about 10 mm.

Further, thieves will begin to penetrate into the hive through this tube, but they will no longer be able to get out of it. At the moment when all the strangers are inside the notch, it will need to be closed and transported to another place. Gradually, the thief bees will begin to settle in a new place and begin to collect honey.

How to stop the attack of bees on the hive

Stop theft in the apiary only if they are part of the apiary. This will require:

1. Move the thief hive to a new location. As a rule, such individuals attack weak families, and if they find themselves in a new place, they will lose the object of attack.
2. Lock the thieves in the dark for 3 days in spring and 8 days in autumn. This procedure has a calming effect on thieving bees.
3. Deprive of food so that there is no strength to fight.

An excellent prevention is to damage the hive in which the thieves live – to make a hole. The bees will stop attacking as they will be busy producing wax to close the gap.

Theft of bees

In addition to spring and autumn theft among bees, some beekeepers are faced with the theft of colonies. There are people who set traps in the way of insects and kidnap the captured bees. For these purposes, small plywood boxes are installed on the trees, which are treated with wax on the outside and nectar on the inside.

Undoubtedly, bees can be attracted in this way, but it is important to understand that brood left in its native hive can completely die without food. In addition, insects need a queen. If insects are caught too late, then before the end of winter they may not have time to equip the hive, grow brood and provide the necessary amount of food for themselves, as a result of which the individuals may die.

How to deal with bee theft

If thefts are noticed in apiaries, then it is necessary to immediately begin to fight against thieving bees. Quick actions will help the robbed family recover quite quickly and return to collecting honey. In this situation it is worth:

• reduce the passage of the notch so that no more than 2 individuals can pass into it;
• cover the hive with planks in the form of a visor, as a result of which the entrances will be hidden from other bees;
• close the entrances with glass – local individuals will orient themselves as quickly as possible, and strangers will be confused;
• in case of serious attacks, it is worth closing all the cracks, it will also help from bee theft a tube in the notch;
• it is worth paying attention to the uterus, which is most likely weakened and cannot protect the family;
• as a rule, the same individuals steal, which already arrive not by smell, but remember the way, in which case it is recommended to move the hive.

If necessary, you can pour clean water over the hive, which will wash away not only traces of honey, but also its smell.

Preventive measures

To prevent theft among bees, it is worth resorting to preventive measures:

• do not leave the hives open for a long time;
• all work is best done in the evening, which will prevent the attraction of thieves;
• periodically it is recommended to transfer the apiary to another place;
• after the work, the equipment used should be thoroughly washed;
• do not often look at the bees after the honey plant is completed;
• when working with frames, it is worth covering with a wet cloth those with which work is not currently being carried out.

By following these recommendations, you can prevent the attack of thieves on the apiary.

Conclusion

Theft from bees is quite common. It is necessary to start solving this problem as soon as possible, otherwise it will lead to disastrous consequences. As a rule, during the honey harvest, theft becomes less pronounced or stops completely.