STOP 🛑 Those

#beekeeping #beekeepingtips #robbingbees
In a nectar dearth or period when there is no ample supply of nectar available for a honey bee hive, sometimes the bees will turn into opportunists and begin to rob stores from a weaker hive. This is especially prevalent in the fall and early spring.
There are many behaviors of a bee hive that sometimes appears as robbing but it’s important to be able to recognize the behavior and stop it or even put proactive measures in place to help mitigate it from ever starting such as a robbing screen.
You can purchase one of the bee smart robbing screens from our online store.
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Remember beekeeping is local, our videos outline what works for us and are not intended to be a prescription for your bee colonies. Although these concepts are generally endorsed by many beekeepers you have to listen, watch, and learn from your bees.
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[@jamestownsendjrtbees3226]

Thanks for the video, great information. I have to get some of those robbing screens. Fortunately I haven't had to deal with robbing yet but as I continue to grow my apiary I should be ready just in case.

[@BohemiaBees]

Correct. Better to be proactive

[@pastormike1971]

I noticed you had placed them on your other hives, if robbers are from your other colonies, it would seem they would figure out how to get in, since they enter and exit their own hives the same way and familiar with the screens. Have you had a issue with this?

[@BohemiaBees]

Robber bees are driven by pure scent and are followers. They follow other robber bees to the front entrance and look to enter. House bees come and go out the sides (after you put a robbing screen on) and are able to build a group of guard bees to defend that new entrance.

[@dsummerscm]

This is great information Jason! Thanks for sharing. Haven’t seen those screens before.

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks Dawn. It’s a great tool.

[@Swarmstead]

This time of year, if I see deadouts getting robbed, I leave them alone. To close them up would send robbing scouts to nearby living colonies, which I don't want. I like those robbing screens though. They'd be good for fall.

[@aarongriffin81]

I encourage all my deadouts to be robbed asap. Any day warm enough to fly they move a little more stores. I rotate the hive bodies to let light through gaps as well as make easy access into the deadouts. Light prevents pests and more air prevents mold in deadouts. Simply reduce the entrances of all living colonies next to the deadouts.

[@DruMcDoo]

Question... How do dead bees get removed? If there are a lot of them they could block entrance and colonoy may die. Can bees fly up with dead bees to remove them? With hundreds of bees dying daily sounds like it could be a major problem? There is a device which is called 'Wasp Out" which is basically a horizontal 6 inch 150mm) length of square tube with vent on front. This acts in a similar way ~ however is excellent for killing colonies because dead bees get stuck in tube. Wonder if daily inspection of this Beesmart is needed to avoid similar disaster?

[@BohemiaBees]

This colony died over the winter. We don’t inspect during the winter and we’re not aware they were dead until this occurred in early spring. We closed the hive off to stop the robbing incident. As a beekeeper we experience bee losses as part of keeping bees. The average bee lifespan is 45 days. Which means we inspect and manage colonies regularly to help sustain those colonies as long as we can. Allowing generations of bees to flourish in our apiary. This colony on question was unfortunately a casualty long gone and we were demonstrating how we stop the behavior not save the colony.

[@brucesbees]

Very interesting and important video Jason. Thanks for sharing!

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks Bruce

[@628DirtRooster]

Interesting. I've never seen that style screen before.

[@BohemiaBees]

It's part of the Bee Smart Line of products. I am still debating about having a booth at 2022 hivelife with their full line of products. Since I use and sell most of them.

[@joebrosnan8241]

This video was awesome, thank you. Could I ask a couple other details? I actually put the exact same robbing screens on due to an event today. I could tell a lot of foragers were wanting to get back inside. Right now ive left them on, fully closed, there are clumps of bees outside...couldnt tell if the robbers were waiting, or if it was the house bees? Should I open one of the bee screen gates? Last year this happened to me, i feel like it went on several days...so worried if i open a gate, the robbers will just flood in through it first light?

[@jonotermaat7247]

Great video. Thank you. How do you deal with wasps in winter. Could you also use this screen?

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Seems like you just move the deadout not restrict the flight path of the live colony's. Bee keepers don't just run robbing screens like that .. they surely wouldn't add them when the work force is out in the field ..

[@BohemiaBees]

I eventually did. This was a measure to stop it until I could break it down. I don’t use robbing screens during a flow.

[@jonathanmay6755]

Both robbers AND wasps figured out my beesmart screen in a few days. Sucks.

[@AsslalRachid-ym7fp]

Thanks for the video

[@BohemiaBees]

Happy to share

[@naturalwitchery]

This is my nightmare. Thinking I've overwinter a 2 deep hive and finding them drad!

[@BohemiaBees]

Unless you have many colonies in close proximity. Early spring robbing isn’t common. But fall you need to be aware of yellow jackets and others that will destroy a hive

[@FreeRangeArtFarm]

Hey Jason, great info. If you are leaving the robbing screens on overnight, what happens to any of the foragers from that colony? Do they just have to spend the night on the front porch?

[@BohemiaBees]

I opened them up but left the screens on. Foragers were guided in by house bees expressing nasnov gland.

[@FreeRangeArtFarm]

@@BohemiaBees Ah, so you opened the top gates. Ok, that's makes more sense. Thanks.

[@sasha185]

I did the same thing later. 😢 at first I just put the screen on and left one door open. I had just re-queen it the day before. It’s currently going on right now and I completely shut off the entrances. Keep my fingers crossed my queen is OK.

[@sophialarson1578]

I have had to leave my robber screens. Lots of bees in the area. We are in a small town, and apparently lots of gals. FYI - my girls do not like those plastic robbing screens - in fact, one hive propolised them closed

[@BohemiaBees]

Definitely need to be diligent this time of year. We have never had an issue with them but some colonies propolis everything so it depends on the genetics and region. Bees do what bees want.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Very helpful information. Thank you!

[@BohemiaBees]

You are welcome 🙏🏻 thank you for the support

[@KajunHomestead]

Great info thanks for sharing.

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks

[@lorilorobbees540]

Thanks for the video!

[@BohemiaBees]

No problem. Thanks for the support

[@gerardjohnson2106]

REAL beekeeping. Thanks for sharing

[@BohemiaBees]

We do what we can Gerard, thanks for the support.

[@98honeybees92]

Robbing is not good

[@BohemiaBees]

Correct. It can quickly get out of control if not managed.

[@tudorfrancu577]

🐝❤️

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks Tudor

[@bzhoneyalanb8613]

Great video mate top marks

[@BohemiaBees]

Thanks Alan for the support

[@bzhoneyalanb8613]

@Bohemia Bees cheers new to the channel, really enjoying your content. From Scotland so good to see a slightly different take on things.

[@babatrlalan]

For us beginners it would also be great to know why the colony died. If they had enough food, is the reason that they went up too high and froze to death? In some literature it is mentioned that a wrong distribution of winter food can lead to bees freezing and some beekeepers practice to put the food in the lower boxes therefore.

[@BohemiaBees]

Great question we covered that topic in a prior video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/joHLfoN9j8t1e6s