Wasp & Robbing Advice
Wasp & Robbing Advice
Lack of nectar in late summer inevitably leads to robbing. Wasps get a bad press for robbing because they are very visible (and indeed they do rob), but by far the most serious robbing is carried out by honeybees from neighbouring strong colonies. When colonies are populous and nectar in short supply, those lovely honeybees of yours are absolute opportunists. Close down the entrances in weak hives to one or two bee widths and keep an eye out for robbing activity. Weak hive entrances can also be shielded by leaning a slate or piece of glass (or other material that will stay in place in the wind). The robbers don’t like having to go round the edges of the slate, but the occupants of the weak hive will find their way in and out without trouble.
If you do have issues with wasps, the Scottish Government has recently published some advice on managing wasps, which can be downloaded via the link below
