Robbing happens when bees from one colony — usually a strong one — forcibly steal honey from another, weaker colony instead of gathering nectar from flowers. It is most common during a nectar dearth, when little forage is available and stored honey becomes the most attractive resource in the area. Once robbing starts it can escalate fast: scout robbers recruit more robbers, guards get overwhelmed, and a weak colony can be stripped of its stores and killed within days.
UK beekeepers watch for robbing in the "June gap" and during late-summer dearths after the main flow ends. Warning signs include bees fighting and tumbling near the entrance, torn-up wax on the landing board, and a high-pitched, agitated roar from the hive — very different from the calm hum of normal foraging traffic.
A strong colony turns to stealing honey from a weaker neighbour during a nectar dearth, while guard bees try to hold the entrance — set the dearth severity, guard numbers, colony strength and entrance reducer to see who wins.
Robbing pressure rises sharply with forage scarcity, while a colony's defence depends on guard numbers, overall vigour and whether an entrance reducer narrows the doorway robbers must pass through.
Raise the nectar dearth slider to send more robber bees at the weak hive. Adjust guard bees, colony strength and the entrance reducer toggle, then watch honey stores and the defence success rate respond live.
An entrance reducer that forces bees through a one- or two-bee-wide gap is one of the simplest and most effective defences UK beekeepers use during a dearth, letting a handful of guards check every arrival.