Robbing and Other Predators

Robbing and Other Predators#

1 . What is the most efficient predator of a honey bee colony?

Another honey bee colony (bee robbing)

2 . What is the optimum way to prevent robbing in an apiary?

  1. Not having weak or struggling colonies in an apiary with strong colonies

  2. After the nectar flow has ceased, make sure all hives have reduced entrances and no other external openings or cracks.

  3. Equalize colonies and solve problems quickly and efficiently

  4. While working colonies, avoid long inspection times especially if honey is exposed and only work colonies if needed

  5. When feeding, don’t spill syrup on the exterior of the hive or ground nearby, make sure feeders are secure from outside invaders and don’t leave open containers of syrup in the apiary

3 . How can you tell that bees are robbing a colony?

  1. Zig-zag or frenzied flight pattern

  2. Lack of pollen loads

  3. Attraction to other cracks or crevices of the hive that are not the hive entrance

  4. A large number of bees encompassing a hive

4 . How can you stop a colony that is currently being robbed?

  1. Close access cracks with tape

  2. Narrowing the front entrance (entrance reducer) to only one bee

  3. Move the hive to another location (more remote)

  4. Solve the problem that made the colony weak in the first place

5 . What factor in an apiary can promote robbing?

Hive density is too high especially when colonies are competing with one another for limited floral resources

6 . What is the most significant vertebrate honey bee predator?

Bears

7 . How does one keep skunks from attacking a hive and eating honey bees?

Place boards in front of the hive with nails sticking straight up to hurt the feet of skunks as they stand in front of the hive

8 . What is the chief insect predator of honey bees?

“Bee wolves” or hornets but now there may be a new invasive pest called “yellow legged hornet”

9 . Are infestations with ants inside a hive a problem for us in the Southeast?

No, rarely do they cause a problem for the bees. However, weak and dying colonies may be overrun by fire ants or other ants, but rarely do they actually kill the colony.

10 . Are bee kills from pesticides on the incline in the US or decline? Why or why not?

They are slightly declining due to the increase use of IPM in agriculture, newer less toxic chemicals being used by farmers and improved public awareness of the value of honey bees as pollinators.

11 . With Varroa destructor being the number one reason bees die, what is the number two reason bees die in the US?

Starvation