How to Tell When Your Hive Is Being Robbed in Late Fall or Winter and What to Do About It

By mid-November, activity in the beeyard typically slows as cooler weather moves in. But sometimes, one hive stands out—buzzing loudly, with bees darting in and out in apparent chaos. While it might look like a strong, active colony, this kind of commotion is usually a sign of trouble, especially when the rest of the hives are calm.

Image by Nanette Davis

Recognizing the Warning Signs

Under normal conditions, healthy hives show steady, calm flight patterns and create a low hum. The sound is consistent, and bees enter and exit primarily through the hive entrance.

When a hive is being robbed, behavior changes dramatically. The buzzing becomes much louder and more erratic, and instead of using the entrance, bees can be seen slipping in and out through the seams between boxes and corners. Another key indicator is visible debris—small flecks of wax or propolis scattered on the landing board or hive front—a telltale sign that robbing is underway.

Photo by Nadia Clark

If neighboring hives show only light activity while one hive is buzzing wildly, robbing is almost certainly occurring.

What’s Happening Inside the Hive

Robbing occurs when stronger colonies invade weaker ones to steal honey stores, often during nectar shortages or when a hive is too weak to defend itself.

When inspected, a robbed (past tense) hive usually reveals very few resident bees and very few signs of life (queen, brood, worker bees). The interior is often filled with robber bees consuming leftover honey, and the combs appear torn open and empty. Once a hive reaches this stage, recovery is not possible—the colony is gone, and only cleanup remains.

Photo by: Bee Informed Partnership

Managing a Robbed-Out Hive

When a hive has already collapsed and is being robbed, there is little that can be done to save it. The best option is to allow the robbing process to finish so that the remaining honey can be reused by stronger colonies in the apiary.

Follow these steps to help the process along safely:

• Remove the lid and tilt the top box on its side to allow easy access.
• Leave the hive in this position for a few days until the honey is completely taken.
• Once empty, remove and store the drawn comb for future use and store properly.

This ensures that valuable comb and wax are preserved and that resources stay within the yard.

When the Hive Is Still Alive

If a hive is discovered in the early stages of robbing but still has a viable population, intervention can make a difference.

Use these steps to reduce or stop robbing:

• Installing an entrance reducer or robbing screen limits access and makes it easier for guard bees to defend the hive.
• Partially covering the entrance with a spare lid or board confuses robber bees while allowing foragers from that colony to reorient and enter safely.
• Run a water sprinkler near the hive to emulate a rainstorm if possible.
• Place a wet sheet over the hive overnight. This will stop the robbing and give the hive a chance to handle the intruders trapped inside while keeping new ones out. Remove it the next morning.
• Avoiding open feeding, which can trigger robbing throughout the yard.

Note: Don’t wait! Taking quick action can often stabilize the weakened hive before it collapses.

Preventing Robbing in the Future

Robbers typically target the weakest hive in the apiary. Prevention starts with maintaining strong, queenright colonies that have adequate food stores.

Stay alert for the early signs:

• Louder-than-normal buzzing
• Erratic flight patterns
• Bees entering through openings other than the entrance
• Wax flakes or debris on the hive front
• Obvious fighting and exorbitant activity when there shouldn’t be any
• Dead bees on the ground at the entrance

Catching these indicators early can prevent significant loss and stress across the yard.