Words from the Hive: Robber Bees- Gallatin Valley Beekeepers (GVBK) club meeting on Monday, August 13th from 6–7:30pm at the Bozeman Public Library
by Christine Hrenya, Ph.D. Engineering
Please join us for our next monthly Gallatin Valley Beekeepers (GVBK) club meeting on Monday, August 13th from 6–7:30pm at the Bozeman Public Library. Doors open at 5:30pm for networking. The event is free and open to all. Donna Moyer of Alpine Honey Bee Farm will give the featured presentation on hive winterization. A short talk entitled “Mites: Now is the time to be vigilant” will be given by Christine Hrenya. For up-to-date information on local beekeeping events, see “Gallatin Valley Beekeepers” on Facebook or email GallatinValleyBeekeepers@gmail.com.
What the honeybees are up to…
The honeybee colony is full of workers that take on a variety of jobs during their lifetime – nurses, bakers, personal assistants, cleaners, sculptors, undertakers, guards, foragers, etc. In August, another job opening may arise in some colonies: robber bee.
Unlike the other honeybee job titles, robber bee does not garner instant respect. We know what you are thinking – breaking and entering without permission, and stealing valuable goods. And you are correct! Robber bees fly to neighboring colonies with the primary purpose of stealing their honey. And why do they do this, you ask? Bees are pre-programmed to hoard honey so that they have enough food during winter, and their normal food source – flowers – have a hard time thriving in the heat of late summer.
For populous hives, robbers are typically easily fended off by the guard bee army. The telltale sign is an occasional brawl of a few bees at the hive entrance, with one eventually being thrown over the ledge. Mission accomplished for the guard bees. But for weaker hives, robbers will attack en masse and quickly overtake the front line of guard bees. Inside the hive, they tear off the wax cabinet doors of the honeycomb, gorge on honey, and leave a mess behind. And if the attacked hive was weakened by disease or pests, these can be transferred too. Bottom line – robbing is not good for anyone involved.
What the beekeepers are up to…
Taking precautions against robbers. Supplying water so the bees can keep the hive cool. Adding more space for honey storage. Checking for disease and pests.
What the non-beekeepers can do…
Go to the nursery and buy a few native plants that honeybees are showing interest in, and plant them in your yard. This will keep would-be robbers busy with more altruistic activities – gathering nectar and pollen from plants instead of robbing their neighbors.
Gallatin Valley Beekeepers is a nonprofit whose objective is to serve as a resource to local beekeepers, to educate the members and community about the science, art, and benefits of beekeeping, and to foster communication and cooperation between beekeepers and the community at large. •
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