Insect Pests and Predators. These include the varroa mite (Varroa destructor) and the honey bee tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi), which both feed on the blood of larval and adult honey bees. Probably not the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking about bee predators, but these wild giants do love honey. The invasive predator represents a serious threat to local pollinators, mainly honey bees. The young honeyguides kill the bee-eater's chicks and destroy any eggs. Some great bee information for kids and adults interested in keeping bees. For example: Bears. In north America skunks do the same. Hornets are ferocious bee predators that have invaded multiple countries around the world. Uncover 23 of the most common live enemies of honey bees. All of the above are predators of foraging bumblebees. Unfortunately, Giant Asian Hornets are another story – they have very few known natural predators, especially not in the United States where they are a newly-arrived, invasive species. Other predators break into nests and include badgers, who will eat the entire brood, wax, stored food and any adult bees that do not escape. Some of the common enemies include wax moths, hive beetles, spiders, ants, flies, and more. Bee-eater nests may be raided by rats and snakes, and the adults are hunted by birds of prey such as the Levant sparrowhawk. The little bee-eater and red-throated bee-eaters are hosts of the greater honeyguide and the lesser honeyguide, both brood parasites. Here is an example to comprehend the atrocity of such a hornet attack: In Japan, beekeepers sometimes prefer European honey bees to native honey bees, because of the larger honey harvest. There are a few bee predators that you need to be aware of, some you can fend off, and others you should just know about. Robber flies can grow to two centimeters or more in length and have proboscis capable of injecting wasps and other insects with a paralyzing neurotoxin. What at first seems like terrible housekeeping turns out to be a clever ploy to fend off huge predators, which can otherwise easily destroy a hive. This post contains Affiliate Links. This means if you click and buy, I might make a commission at no cost to you. Toxic or venomous animals, like bumblebees, are often brightly colored to tell would-be predators to keep away. The good news is that, like other hornets, wasps, and bees, ‘murder hornets’ are very unlikely to sting you without provocation. The Colony and Its Organization; Seasonal Cycles of Activities in Colonies; Honey Bee Parasites, Pests, Predators and Diseases; Educational Resources. Various garden spiders also eat wasps and bees caught in their webs. Honey bees face a number of insect enemies. When a bear has supper from your hive, it can be a devastating massacre. While some of these insects regularly prey upon bees, not all of them effect the colony’s overall health. In Iceland the mink is the major predator. Small but mighty, bees have numerous invaders of a smaller kind; beetles, moths, mites, While not truly predators, the threat posed by honey bee parasites is significant. Taking bees out of trees and building walls; Selecting the right type of bee; Apiary location; Handling bees; Beekeeping equipment; Honey Bee Biology. Foxes, minks, weasels, bears, field mice and shrews are also predators. Describe some methods from preparing and protecting bee hives from bee predators. Predators from this category include dragonflies, robber flies, hornets, centipedes and spiders.