Robbing?

[fayken123]

Good Day

New beekeeper here (1 year)  Live in Northern Florida

I hope you can help me with a problem I have with my beehives.

In April of this year, I had a hive that absconded.  One day they were here, the next day they were gone.  I do not know where they went as we live near a very dense forest preserve unsuitable for walking and investigating.

I ordered and installed two nucs at the beginning of June.  The bees seemed to settle in nicely.  Several days later, I noticed what I would consider robbing activity.  Mass Chaos at the opening of the hive, bees flying everywhere, none of them interested in my presence.  I closed the entrance and ordered a robber screen for each.  I put the robber screens on and closed up all but one small opening.  Today, I noticed the robbing behavior again so I shut down even the small opening.

My belief is that the absconded hive is now trying to rob the new hives.

Is there a way I can trap the absconded hive and put them back in their own hive again?  Or, do I need to leave the robber screens closed tightly and only allow the hive access to the outside for defined periods?

Or anything else you can suggest.

Thanks in advance for your help.  I'm getting pretty worried about this situation.

Michael Fay

[Ben Framed]

Welcome Michael Fay to beemaster! Since worker bees usually live 5 to 7 weeks, I doubt that it is the same hive which left that is doing the robbing. But it could be possible. Before you obtained your bees did you notice bees in your yard, on plants at your place?

[The15thMember]

Welcome, Michael!    I agree with Ben Framed, I think it is a leap to assume that the absconded hive is the one robbing your small colonies.  Any bee colony within 3 miles could be doing the robbing, or one of your colonies could be robbing the other one.  (Which is what Ben Framed is getting at by asking if there were bees at your place before.)  If the colonies are indeed experiencing robbing, I would leave only the small opening and not close them up for more of the day.  June is pretty late to get nucs, and they'll need all the foraging time they can get to build up for winter. 

Are you sure they are indeed being robbed?  During a robbing episode, you will see bees trying to get into the hive by any means, checking out the cracks between the boxes and up under the bottom board, and there may be bees fighting on the ground near the hive or on the landing board.  Fighting bees will be locked together in pairs, and spinning in circles as they try to sting or bite each other. 

Do you have a feeder on these hives?  Because feeding can increase robbing.  You may be feeding because the hives are still pretty small, but if there is a nectar flow in your area I would stop feeding for now.   

Here is a great article about robbing, both identifying it and solutions for dealing with it. 
https://www.honeybeesuite.com/how-to-stop-robbing/

[iddee]

Close the screen on the bottom and open the smallest opening at the top. Robbing screens do no good at all when open on the bottom.

[BeeMaster2]

Michael,
Welcome to Beemaster.
Are you located in Osceola National Forest? If so most of the flows have stopped. This causes robbing. If you are using a front feeder. It is a big invitation for bees to rob the hive.
What time does this robbing occur. Around 6:00 PM new bees are orienting to their hive. This may be what you are seeing.
If you are near Baker County, we have meetings on the Fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 at Firehouse Subs in Macclenney.
Jim Altmiller

[cao]

Welcome 

[FloridaGardener]

Welcome! In north Florida, feral hives are everywhere. 

I have noted intense robbing after tropical windstorms. I think pollen & nectar is rained/blown off, also bee-trees can fall and colonies need new resources. Hives may be stressed and emit pheromones, and the air is crystal-clear which intensifies the ability for robbers to smell stressed hives.

Keep an eye on them for stealth robbing. Robbers can find their way in slowly. Change the location of the secret door on the screen if you think they are getting in.

Watch for bees that walk up the side of the hive and take off heavy with a swoop down.  If it doesn't stop you will have to move the hive.