ROBBER BEES 



leisurely manner of a bee getting ready to fly 

 to the fields, but rushes out in a great hurry, 

 and the distention of its abdomen will indi- 

 cate that it is heavily loaded, whereas in the 

 case of a bee coming out for its flight to the 

 field, the abdomen is empty and slim in ap- 

 pearance. 



It is a good plan as soon as the flow of honey 

 is over, and the weather not too warm, to con- 

 tract the entrances of all hives; this is not so 

 necessary in the case of strong colonies, but 

 where they are weak it is absolutely essential 

 and should not be neglected. Be careful 

 about opening hives out of season, and keep 

 their lids off only so long as is necessary ; above 

 all, do not leave any honey or feed syrup about, 

 for this will be only an invitation to robbing. 



Where queen-rearing is carried on, there is 

 great danger of robbing, as the little mating 

 nuclei are not strong enough to repel the 

 invaders unless the entrances are small, and 

 what is true of nuclei is also true of all weak 

 colonies. 



261 



