I30 AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 



keep the field bees busy ; it is only during a dearth, and 

 at the close of the season that it takes place if there is 

 the slightest opportunity afforded. It may of course 

 occur in winter or spring, but there is not so much risk 

 at these times. Ordinary precautions, however, should 

 be observed at all times. 



Robber bees ' ' on the prowl ' ' may be seen examining 

 the joints of the bottom boards, supers, and covers, and 

 dodging about on the wing in front of the hives, every 

 now and again making a feint to alight near the 

 entrance, but quickly dodging back again on the 

 approach of a "sentinel." Hives containing small 

 colonies should have their entrances contracted a little 

 while robbers are about. 



PRECAUTIONS. 



The first six weeks after the end of the season is the 

 worst for robbing. No saccharine matter of any kind 

 should be left where bees can get at it, and the honey 

 house should be kept clear of bees at this time. The 

 advantage of having a bee-tight honey house will then 

 be appreciated. Robbing may easily be prevented, but 

 when once it gets in full swing it requires all one's 

 ingenuity to stop it, and an apiary may be ruined before 

 it can be mastered. The bees at such times become 

 demoralised, and will sting any animal that approaches 

 within a hundred yards of the apiary. 



TO STOP ROBBING. 



It is easy to detect open robbing, but there is some- 

 times a quiet tranquil kind of robbing going on without 

 the violence associated with the former, but which is 

 nevertheless quite as dangerous, and more difficult to 

 detect. It occurs chiefly in the colder weather of early 

 winter and early spring. At first there is nothing 

 abnormal about the hive to be seen, the bees seem to 

 be going in and out as usual, but an experienced apiarist 

 might notice that the bees are rather more active than 

 those in the other hives. Later on, minute portions of 



