The hive is being robbed.  This means that the colony was weak and area bees from other colonies (feral or farmed) are stealing out the honey and killing the bees in the process.  If left unchecked, they will rob out every speck of honey and my colony will be left to starve to death.  Tonight Brian and I will be draping nets over the hive to keep out the robbers.  We’re hoping that by putting food and water in the netting, but containing the hive, they will get a chance to come back and fight off the robbers that return.

I feel awful.  I was checking in the hive in October and thought that they were strong.  With a deep brood and a medium brood, there remains a deep and a super of honey to last the colony through the winter.  I had only checking as far down as the top brood through September to make sure they were doing ok.  When I spotted a couple of mites in Sept. I decided NOT to treat the bees, hoping that they could handle the pests themselves.  I comforted myself with the knowledge that they were able to keep the mite population down to only a couple, that I had seen.

I also decided that perhaps it was best to let the bees alone to do what they do best.  I didn’t inspect into the bottom boxes, thinking that leaving them alone was better than messing with their space.  At last check, in October, the population was large and the boxes were filled with honey.

Now, there are at least 100 dead bees scattered about the opening of the hive and a major battle being waged.  I feel as if I neglected my job, rather than limiting my presence for the good of the colony.

I’ll keep you posted.

Tags: Bees, Farming, feeding, Honey