From: "Cara &Tom Patterson"  Question - has anyone else experienced this
sort of bee war?  I
> realize in bad years stronger hives rob out weaker ones if given a
> chance, but this wasn't a bad year and the robbing bees didn't need
> the supplies (or really have a place to put it!)."

IMHO such robbing only starts if the weak hive has a poor queen.  Bees seem
well able to defend any reasonable entrance if morale is high - sheer extra
numbers in the stronger hive should not give overwhelming advantage. But if
the queen is starting to fail, morale goes down, and robber bees seem able
to detect this. So if u have monster hives, ensuring ALL  hives have
well-mated young queens would be wise.

Leaving a hive alone that is being attacked seems crazy to me.  Once stirred
up, a robber hive is a danger to other hives and to people. If all hives
have open mesh floors, it is simple to shut up both the weak hive and the
robber for a day, without need for additional ventilation.

The reason why taking the tops of hives as a first quick way to slow robbing
may be, IMHO, that robbing is led by the same group of bees that supply the
hive guards.  If the home hive suddenly needs extra guards to protect a new
sudden opening that places the home at risk, then that group may switch
priorities.  If however, all foragers have been recruited to robbing, it is
too late for the method to work so well - IF  my theory is correct.

Robin Dartington

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