Robbing

[GSF]

1) Will robber bees spend the night outside the hive they desire to rob when it's screened shut?

2) Should I now be concerned with the fate of the queens in the hives that were attempted to be robbed out?

I set some frames out for them to clean up. I knew that was a mistake before I done it. Within about 30 minutes the air was filled with bees everywhere. I could tell some of the weaker hives were being robbed so I screened them shut but the suspected robber bees are still hanging on the hive and its about 5 minutes before dark. These two don't have a large population so I'm sure it's not the home girls hanging around.

[biggraham610]

How far from the hives did you set the frames? I have heard they need to be a safe distance...... I have some frames i want to set out as well, but dont want the same to happen........ G :chop:

[GSF]

About 60 to 70 yards.

[AliciaH]

I have two groups of bees at my place.  Distance is about 900 feet between them.  Put some frames out in the middle, thinking it would be enough distance.  Nope...same scenario as you, havoc all over the property within 20-30 minutes.  Learned the hard way there are just some times of the year that free food is a bad idea...sigh...

As for your question about your queens.  I am not an expert, but can say that in my apiary, I've only lost two queens to robbing (that I know of).  In both cases, the hives were very weak and I didn't discover the robbing soon enough to shut the entrances down to a single bee-width.  In cases where I have found them in time and severely shut down the entrances, things have worked out okay.

[Michael Bush]

>1) Will robber bees spend the night outside the hive they desire to rob when it's screened shut?

Not many.  If you have bees outside, they probably live there.

>2) Should I now be concerned with the fate of the queens in the hives that were attempted to be robbed out?

Nothing you can do now, but it's quite possible they are dead.  They might still be alive.

bushfarms.com/beesrobbing.htm

[BeeMaster2]

About 60 to 70 yards.

Gary,
That should be far enough. The distance required is dependent on the type of honey bee you have. Different types have different minimum distances as to how close to the hive they will give the direction and distance. Closer than their minimum and they just say it is out there close by go find it. Your other hives are full of the same smelling honey and the robbing starts. I will have to look it up in my Honey Bee Biology book as to which one is which. I think it is Carnloians have a minimum of 40' and Italians have a minimum of around 100'.
Jim