142 



THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL AND GAZETTE. 



We have repeatedly witnessed this procedure 

 in our own apiary, and between our own colo- 

 nies, permitting the drama to be enacted from 

 first to last, and convincing ourself that the 

 colony assailed will defend itself so resolutely 

 and prcseveringly, that it is never overpowered 

 if the attack is discovered early enough to per- 

 mit tho needed aid to be given. 



It is likewise easy to ascertain, either in 

 spring or fall, whether a colony is robbing. At 

 the mouth of such a colony, an unusual crowd 

 of workers is then seen congregated, and hum- 

 ming complacently in a sort of undertone. 

 Other workers are busily passing in and out, 

 and returning bees are kindly received and 

 caressed. 



The workers begin to fly unusually early 

 in the morning, even in unfavorable wea- 

 ther, and continue to make their excursions 

 till late in the dusk of evening. Few of the 

 returning bees bring in pollen; and the hive in- 

 creases remarkably in weight, though the latter 

 alone is no sure indication of robbing, at a 

 time when pasturage is very abundant, espe- 

 cially if the colony be very populous. But we 

 are now speaking only of spring and fall, when 

 such abundance is not to be looked for. At 

 those periods, too, strong colonies will occasi- 

 onally allow individual marauders to enter and 

 appropriate honey. We have at times seen 

 such entering a hive Avith a rush, and reissue 

 Avith the speed of an arrow, without producing 

 excitement among the inmates. But even 

 mai'audings may result in a regular and com- 

 bined attack, if the bees are not early made 

 aware that their stores are thus abstracted by the 

 dashing and daring intruders. 



We have so far sketched the indications of 

 robbing as they usually present themselves in 

 its incipiency and progress, where the assault 

 Avas gradual and slowly in-^reasing. But we 

 have also known instances Avhere, Avhile our 

 bees Avere busily and undisturbedly at work, 

 robbers in large number suddenly made their 

 appearance, and simultaneously assaulted every 

 hive in our apiary. This sometimes continued 

 to be repeated for several days, and then gra- 

 dually ceased. 



The Baron of Berlepsch experienced the 

 like, and neither of us could give any satisfactory 

 explanation of the phenomenon. They appear, 

 hoAVCver, to be unusual occurrences, and the 

 danger resulting from them is diminished by 

 the fact that all the hives are simultaneously and 

 violently attacked, and the inmates thus at once 

 aroused to make vigorous resistance. 



When bees are flying unusually brisk, it is 

 sometimes difficult to determine Avhether rob- 

 bing is taking place or not, for in hot Aveather, 

 amid the burning rays of the sun, bees will 

 at times hover about the mouth of their own 

 hives in a manner so resembling the deportment 

 of robbers that a novice may easily mistake 

 them for such. But if no conflicts take place 

 alter he has aroused the attention of the bees by 

 brushing them from the entrance with a feather, 

 he may dismiss his fears as ungrounded. 



We likewise are of opinion that Avhere rob- 

 bing occurs the fault is Avith the party that is 

 robbed. For though it were true — which we 



are not disposed to believe — that bees could be 

 educated to become robbers, still populous colo- 

 nies having young, vigorous, and fertile queens 

 Avill iuA'ariably succeed in repelling attacks, if 

 their hives arc in proper condition, and they 

 rcceiA'c some seasonable aid. 



But, before proceeding to state in what such 

 aid should consist, Ave shall briefly adA'crt to 

 the inducements and causes Avhich lead to rob- 

 bing, and Avhich it behooves every bee-keeper 

 to avoid or remove. 



1. Queenlessness is the chief cause of success- 

 ful assaults, for the prying explorers speedily 

 discover whether a colony is queenless or not; 

 and aware that such a community is either Aveak 

 or dispirited, an attack is immediately begun, 

 the ultiuaate issue of Avhich is never doubtful, if 

 the OAvncr do not interfere. Weak colonies, 

 too, are in danger of being robbed because they 

 do not efficiently guard the entrance of the 

 hive in spring and fall, thus alloAving a few 

 explorers to make their Avay in, and a general 

 assault then speedily follows. 



2. Carelessness in feeding bees is another not 

 unfrequcnt cause of robbing. This occurs Avhen 

 the feeding-box is so placed as to be accessible 

 to the bees of other hives, or when Avarmed 

 honey is fed, the odor of which attracts others 

 from a distance, or when partially emptied 

 combs are set out in an apiary for the use of the 

 bees; or Avhcn honey is accidentally spilled near 

 a hive; or Avhcn the troughs or plates used for 

 feeding bees at night are negligently suff'ered to 

 remain unremoA'cd till late next morning. Here 

 the evil result is attributable to mere careless- 

 ness or negligence; but Avhen robbing is super- 

 induced by stimulative feeding in the open air, 

 the bee-keeper must attribute his loss solely to 

 his own rashness and folly. 



3. Injudicious pruning of stocks in the vicin- 

 ity of the apiary on a Avarm day often leads to 

 robbing, as not unfrequently honc}^ is spilled on 

 the ground, or ihc partially-depriA'ed hive is be- 

 smeared therewith; or knives, plates, and empty 

 combs arc set out to be licked clean by the b«es, 

 and thus prove to be a source of attraction for 

 those disposed to rob. 



4. Large entrances or side-openings give 

 ready admission to stranger bees in search of 

 honey, and such hives are sometimes robbed of 

 a large part of their stores, before their OAvn in- 

 mates become aAvare of their loss. When pas- 

 turage is scarce, the entrance of a hiA^e should 

 not be more than an inch in length by half an 

 inch in height, and all otlier side or bottom 

 openings should be cai'cfully closed. 



To one or another of these causes almost any 

 case of robbing can generally be traced; and 

 hence it may be alleged Avith truth that the bee- 

 keeper himself is at fault if he suffers loss. It 

 is almost ahvays in his power to obviate or re- 

 move the cause; and more especially should he 

 seek never to permit a queenless colony to re- 

 main in his apiary, Avhen no means of supplying 

 its Avant are provided. Robbing commonly oc- 

 curs in the Avarm days of spring and fall, Avhen 

 honey cannot be procured from its usual natural 

 sources; and the apiary at such times demands 

 li-om its owner daily careful supervision, that 

 damage may be prevented; for if the incipient 



