Reptiles and Other Pests

Lizards, frogs, spiders, ants and some large insects can hunt bees in the apiary or steal food from the hive. Within this group, it is mostly ants that do real harm to a colony; the effect of the others on a strong colony is usually negligible. The main task is to keep the apiary tidy and not to leave weak colonies.

Who belongs to this group, and how important are they?

Birds, mammals and hornets are covered on separate pages. The "small" pests left here are creatures that hunt bees one at a time or get into the hive when they have the chance. Every day a colony naturally loses a large number of old foragers; the number of bees these creatures catch is usually small by comparison.

Ants: the real problem in this group

How to tell

• Regular trails of ants entering via the hive legs, the back wall or the edge of the lid
• Clusters of ants in the feeder, under the lid or on the crown board
• Agitation among the bees and dwindling brood in a mating nuc or small nucleus colony
• Warmth-loving ant nests under the lid (often not directly harmful to the colony, but a warning sign)

A strong colony usually keeps ants entering through the entrance outside. If ant pressure has increased, look at the strength of the colony first.

What to do

1. Raise the hive off the ground. A hive standing on a stand or legs has an advantage against both ants and damp.
2. Put barriers on the legs. Stand the legs of the hive stand in containers filled with water, or apply sticky tape or grease to the legs. Top up the water containers regularly, and make sure leaves and twigs falling in do not form a "bridge".
3. Cut the bridges. Grass, branches and walls touching the hive give ants a path; keep the area around the hive clear.
4. Do not spill syrup. Feed in the evening, clean up spilled syrup immediately, and make sure the feeder does not leak.
5. Strengthen or unite a weak colony. Reduce the entrance to suit the colony's strength.
6. Remove the nest. Mechanically disturbing or removing large ant nests right next to the apiary helps.

Lizards and frogs

On sunny days lizards wait at the edge of the landing board or under the hive and catch bees going in and out one by one. Frogs, especially toads, sit in front of the entrance in the late afternoon and at night and eat the bees coming out.

• In a strong colony this loss usually goes unnoticed; most of these creatures also hunt other pest insects.
• Raising the hive off the ground, keeping the grass in front of the entrance short and not leaving stones or piles of wood under the hive for them to hide in is usually enough.
• Frogs being seen constantly may indicate that the apiary is too damp or too close to water. Damp also increases other problems in the colony.

Spiders and other predatory insects

Spiders spinning webs in the corners of the hive, under the stand and at the edge of the lid occasionally catch bees. Crab spiders waiting on flowers and praying mantises also catch the odd bee. These losses usually have no measurable effect on the colony. Sweeping away the webs around the hive during inspections is enough.

In sandy, warm regions in summer a solitary wasp called the beewolf (Philanthus species) hunts honey bee workers and carries them to its nest. This species can be locally numerous; observe its effect around the apiary, and if the problem grows, moving the hives elsewhere is the most practical solution.

Death's-head hawkmoth

This large moth, with a pattern resembling a skull on its back, enters the hive in late summer and autumn and sucks honey. The bees often kill it; you may find a large moth covered in propolis inside the hive. A wide entrance makes it easier for it to get in. Reducing the entrance to suit the colony's strength at this time of year is a sufficient measure.

Snakes: a risk to the beekeeper, not the bees

Snakes do not hunt bees, but the space under the hive and between the stands is a cool, sheltered hiding place. In regions with venomous snakes, do not put your hand under hives or between upturned lids without looking, and wear boots with high shafts. Keeping the surroundings of the apiary clean is the best measure here too.

Common mistakes

• Spraying insecticide or scattering ant powder around the hive
• Blaming colony loss on lizards, frogs or spiders and not looking for the real cause
• Leaving weak nucleus colonies and mating nucs unprotected against ants
• Letting water-filled leg containers dry out or fill up with leaves