Autumn Robbing Frenzy: How to Protect Your Beehives from Chaos and Collapse

Why Robbing is a Major Threat in Autumn

As summer fades and nectar flows dwindle, honey bee colonies in New Zealand face a growing challenge—robbing. This aggressive behavior occurs when stronger colonies invade weaker hives to steal their honey stores, often leading to hive destruction, starvation, or even the spread of disease.

In autumn, as resources become scarce, the risk of robbing skyrockets. If left unchecked, a single episode of robbing can spiral out of control, attracting more bees from nearby apiaries and causing devastating colony losses.

What Causes Robbing?

Robbing is triggered by:

• Dwindling nectar sources – Hungry bees become desperate for food.

  
  

• Weakened colonies – Small or struggling hives are easy targets.

  
  

• Open honey sources – Exposed honey, leaky feeders, or spilled syrup encourage robbing.

  
  

• Poorly sealed hive entrances – Wide-open entrances make hives vulnerable.

  
  

Signs Your Hive Is Being Robbed

• Increased hive activity – Bees frantically flying around the entrance.

  
  

• Fighting bees – Bees wrestling on the ground or near the hive entrance.

  
  

• Bees attempting to enter through cracks or gaps – Robbers try to bypass the guards.

  
  

• Wax debris at the hive entrance – Indicating cells are being torn apart.

  
  

• Aggressive behavior – Normally calm hives may become defensive.

  
  

How to Prevent Robbing

1. Reduce Hive Entrances

   • Use entrance reducers or blocks to allow only a small opening for guard bees to defend.

     
     

2. Avoid Open Feeding

   • Never leave honey, syrup, or wet frames exposed. Use internal feeders instead of open syrup buckets.

     
     

3. Inspect and Close Gaps

   • Ensure hives are tightly sealed with no cracks robbers can exploit.

     
     

4. Work Quickly During Inspections

   • Keep hive checks short and avoid leaving honey frames exposed.

     
     

5. Separate Weak Colonies

   • Move struggling hives away from stronger colonies to prevent attacks.

     
     

6. Robbing Screens

   • Install screens to confuse robbers while allowing resident bees to enter.

     
     

7. Close Up Robbed Hives

   • If a hive is under attack, reduce its entrance to a single bee-width or even close it temporarily.

     
     

What to Do if Robbing Has Started?

• Cover the hive with a wet sheet – This disrupts the robbers' flight patterns.

  
  

• Reduce the entrance immediately – A small opening is easier for guard bees to defend.

  
  

• Move the hive – If robbing is severe, relocating the hive may be necessary.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Robbing can turn an otherwise thriving apiary into chaos within hours. By taking proactive steps in autumn, beekeepers can safeguard their colonies, protect honey stores, and prevent the unnecessary loss of bees.

Have you experienced robbing in your apiary? What strategies worked for you? Share your thoughts in the comments!