MANIPULATINa 69 



117. Robbing. — Bees are by nature inveterate robbers. 

 While honey is coming in plentifully, no robbing will take place ; 

 but at those seasons when from dearth of blossoms of honey- 

 producing plants nectar cannot be obtained, an exceedingly 

 strong desire seems to possess every bee to obtain that or a sub- 

 stitute in any manner possible. Any bee-keeper who has once 

 had experience of a determined case of robbing in an apiary 

 of any size will not soon forget it. The air is alive with bees 

 dashing about in all directions with angry hiss. Around the 

 entrances of the hives the condition of things is worse, fighting, 

 stinging, and struggling taking place as if their very existence 

 depended upon the amount of damage they could do in a given 

 time. The killed are cast down to the ground in hundreds, 

 whilst all around the combatants are struggling in each other's 

 embrace. Woe betide the apiarist who endeavours to go among 

 this turbulent crowd without some protection in the shape of 

 veil ; any living creature will be sure to receive a more than 

 fair allowance of the bees' spite. This condition of things 

 is usually the fault or accident of the bee-keeper ; some honey 

 laid about, or syrup spilt, perhaps a hive carelessly left uncovered. 

 Before robbing has grown to such an extent, the fact should 

 have been found out by the bee-keeper — it could then very easily 

 be stopped ; but when such dimensions have been reached, it is 

 an exceedingly difficult job. It is very rarely we hear of such 

 wholesale robbery, as when a knowledge is gained of the time 

 of year when such is likely to take place extra precautions are 

 observed. It will, therefore, be to the bee-keeper's advantage if 

 he keeps a very sharp look-out just after the close of the honey 

 flow and until cold weather sets in. Very little trouble need be 

 taken with strong colonies — these will usually look after their own 

 interests ; but in the case of weak ones or nuclei, their entrances 

 must be contracted at once to about two bee-space width, and the 

 greatest care must be taken that no honey, honey-comb (having 

 honey or the smell of such attached to it), syrup, or freshly ex- 

 pelled larvas lie about the apiary. Where a hive is being attacked 

 a tuft of grass laid against the entrance will often baffle the 

 marauders, as in attempting to gain an entrance the besieged can 

 tackle them singly in the labyrinth of grass blades. Carbolic 

 acid smeared on the alighting-board and around the entrance will 

 have a good effect ; but where none of these will stop the strife, 

 a carbolised sheet thrown completely over the attacked colony, 

 and left on until just before nightfall, will usually overcome the 

 attentions of the besiegers. Where such will not answer — this 

 is exceedingly rare- the hive must be moved into a dark cool cellar 

 or shed (the inmates being fastened in with perforated zinc), and 

 not returned to its original stand for at least two days, during 

 which time the enemy will have forgotten all about it. The 

 time of season when robbing is likely to take place is in spring, 



