What is one consequence of robbing among bee colonies?

When robbing occurs among bee colonies, it significantly stresses the colonies involved and can facilitate the transmission of pests and diseases. During the robbing process, worker bees from one colony invade another, especially when the latter is weak or has a food resource, such as honey, that attracts them. This interaction increases competition and can lead to aggressive behaviors.

As colonies are stressed from the robbing attempts, they may exhibit weakened defenses, making them more vulnerable to pests and diseases. For instance, if one colony is carrying pathogens while foraging or robbing, it can easily spread these to the competing colony through direct contact or shared resources. This not only jeopardizes the health of the robbed colony but can also pose risks to the robbing colony if they acquire diseases that they might not previously harbor. Thus, the act of robbing does not just impact immediate resources but can have lasting implications for overall colony health and sustainability.