Why Bees Abscond and How to Stop It

 

For many Kenyan beekeepers, one of the most painful experiences is opening a hive and finding it empty. The beekeeper may have bought or built the hive, placed it carefully, waited for bees to occupy it, and even started expecting honey only for the whole colony to leave. This is called absconding.

Absconding happens when bees abandon the hive completely. It is different from swarming. In swarming, part of the colony leaves with a queen while another part remains behind. In absconding, the bees leave the hive as a group, often because something has made the hive unsuitable for survival.

African bees are especially known for this behaviour. A Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping in Kenya notes that African bees frequently abscond, and some races such as Apis mellifera scutellata have a strong tendency to swarm and migrate.

Why Bees Abscond

1. Lack of food and water

Bees need nectar, pollen, honey, and water to survive. When there is a serious shortage of forage, especially during drought, bees may decide to leave in search of a better place. The Kenyan beekeeping guide identifies lack of food and water as one of the main causes of absconding and advises beekeepers to leave food for bees during harvesting, feed when necessary, and provide water in the apiary.

Water is more important than many beginners realize. Bees use water to cool the hive, dilute honey, and support brood rearing. Beekeeping Basics explains that bees need fresh water for hive temperature regulation, brood rearing, and liquefying crystallized honey.

2. Overharvesting honey

Some beekeepers remove too much honey from the hive. This is dangerous, especially before a dry season or a period with few flowers. Honey is not just a product for the beekeeper; it is also the bees’ food reserve.          

When harvesting, always leave enough honey and pollen for the colony. A hive that is robbed of all its food becomes weak, stressed, and more likely to leave.

3. Pest attacks

Frequent attacks by pests can force bees to abandon a hive. In Kenya, common threats include wax moths, safari ants, honey badgers, hive beetles, birds, and human disturbance. The Kenyan guide specifically lists wax moths, safari ants, honey badgers, and human beings as major problems for beekeepers.

Ants are especially serious in many apiaries. They disturb the bees, invade the hive, and may attack brood or food stores. The Kenyan guide recommends hanging hives, greasing hanging wires, keeping grass short, preventing branches from touching hives, and placing stand legs in tins of old engine oil where hives are on stands.

Wax moths usually become worse when colonies are weak or after bees have already left. The guide gives an example of wax moths infesting a hive after bees absconded during the dry season.

4. Excessive heat

A hive placed in very hot sun without shade can become uncomfortable. Bees can cool the hive to some extent, but when heat becomes too much, they may leave.

This is especially important in hot lowland areas. The Kenyan guide advises putting hives in a well-shaded place in very hot areas.

However, shade must be balanced. Too much shade in cold or high-altitude areas can make the hive damp and cold.

5. Cold and damp conditions

In highland areas, the problem may be the opposite of heat. A hive placed under dense trees or in a damp area may become too cold and wet. Bees do not like a wet, cold home. Dampness also encourages disease and slows bee activity.

The Kenyan guide advises against placing hives under dense trees in high-altitude areas. Instead, bees should be given a sunny place with minimal shade.

6. Careless handling by the beekeeper

Bees can leave because of rough handling. Breaking combs, crushing many bees, using too much smoke, opening the hive too often, or disturbing the colony at the wrong time can stress the bees.

The Kenyan guide lists careless handling, including breaking combs and over-smoking, as a cause of absconding.

Smoke is useful, but it must be used properly. Too little smoke may fail to calm the bees, while too much smoke can panic them. The goal is to control the bees, not punish them.

7. Disturbance from people, livestock, and noise

A good apiary should be quiet and protected. Children throwing stones, animals rubbing against hives, thieves stealing honey, or frequent movement around the hive can disturb bees.

Beekeeping Basics recommends that hives be secluded from traffic, constant noise, disturbance from animals and children, and placed where vandalism is discouraged.

 

8. Genetic tendency

Some bees are naturally more likely to abscond. This is common in some African bee populations, especially those adapted to dry areas where migration is a survival strategy.

The Kenyan guide explains that some bees are genetically prone to absconding and advises beekeepers not to breed from colonies with this trait.

How to Stop Bees from Absconding

1. Choose the right apiary site

Good siting prevents many problems before they start. Choose a site with:

• Nearby forage
• Reliable water
• Protection from strong wind
• Some shade in hot areas
• Some sunlight in cold areas
• Low disturbance from people and animals
• Protection from pests and thieves

Avoid swampy areas, very windy hilltops, deep shade, noisy paths, and places where children or livestock frequently pass.

2. Provide water before bees search elsewhere

Do not wait until bees are desperate. Place water near the apiary early. Use a shallow container with stones, sticks, floating wood, or grass so bees can land without drowning.

Once bees become used to another water source, such as a neighbour’s tank or animal trough, it can be difficult to redirect them. Beekeeping Basics warns that once bees become accustomed to a watering place, correcting the problem later may be difficult.

3. Leave enough honey after harvesting

Never harvest like a thief. Harvest like a manager. Leave enough honey and pollen for the colony, especially before dry seasons or cold periods.

For top-bar hives, avoid removing brood combs. Take mature honey combs, preferably from the honey storage area, and leave the brood nest intact.

 

 

4. Feed only when necessary

Feeding is not always recommended in Kenya because it costs money and may not always give returns. However, during drought or long cold and wet periods, feeding can prevent migration and keep bees alive. The Kenyan guide recommends feeding during food shortage and gives sugar syrup ratios: 1:1 sugar to water for stimulation and 2:1 sugar to water for storage feeding.

Feed inside the hive and avoid spilling syrup or honey around the apiary because it can cause robbing. Robbing can weaken colonies and create fighting among bees.

5. Control ants seriously

For Kenyan beekeepers, ant control should not be optional. Hang hives properly. Grease wires regularly. Keep grass short. Remove branches touching the hive. Seal gaps in the hive body. If using stands, place the legs in tins with old engine oil.

A colony under constant ant attack will not settle well.

6. Protect hives from honey badgers

Honey badgers can destroy hives in search of honey and brood. The Kenyan guide recommends hanging hives securely to prevent badgers from knocking them down. It also describes the use of mabati around tree trunks in Kitui to prevent honey badgers from climbing.

7. Handle bees gently

Open the hive only when necessary. Work calmly. Avoid banging the hive. Avoid breaking combs. Use smoke moderately. Close the hive properly after inspection.

If you are using a Kenya Top Bar Hive, handle combs carefully because unsupported combs can break easily, especially when full of honey or during hot weather.

8. Keep colonies strong

Strong colonies defend themselves better against wax moths, ants, beetles, and robbing bees. Weak colonies are more vulnerable and more likely to collapse or leave.

Good management means ensuring the colony has food, space, a good queen, and protection from pests.

Conclusion

Absconding is not just “bad luck.” In many cases, it is a message from the bees that something is wrong. The hive may be too hot, too cold, too wet, too disturbed, too hungry, or under attack.

For Kenyan beekeepers, the best way to stop absconding is to think like the bees. Ask yourself: Is this hive safe? Is there food? Is there water? Are pests disturbing them? Am I handling them gently? Is the hive comfortable in this climate?

When bees are given a secure, well-sited, well-managed home, they are more likely to stay, build comb, raise brood, and produce honey. A good beekeeper does not only harvest honey; he protects the colony that makes the honey possible.

References

• Thomas Carroll, A Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping in Kenya.
• Penn State, Beekeeping Basics.
• James E. Tew, The Beekeeper’s Problem Solver.