The principle of operation of the corridor is known to every beekeeper, since it is a proven method for preventing bee robberies. Beekeepers use various devices for this purpose. However, it is crucial to produce the effect of a corridor. With the bee corridor, which is inserted into the entrance of the beehive during the time of bee robbing danger, the power of the attacker bees is significantly reduced and the defence capability of the guard bees is increased.

Back in 2013, Vlado Augustin, an adviser with the Beekeeping Public Advisory Service (JSSČ), a specialist in the field of beekeeping technology, wrote in the Slovenski čebelar magazine (Number 7-8) about "the tunnel that prevents bee robberies". He added:

"The most effective way to prevent bee robberies is to use the so-called “tunnel', which can be inserted in the entrance."

A long-time president of the Belgrade Beekeepers' Association, Boza Petrovic recommends the use of the "tunnel" as a prevention of bee robbery, whereby the operation is described as:

"The principle of operation is based on the way bees move as they enter the hive of another bee colony to loot the honey. A foreign bee would try to get to the honey as soon as possible and that is why it immediately moves upwards against the inner side of the front beehive wall. Resident bees move differently. They enter the hive through the entrance and move through the centre of bottom board, and exit the hive by moving parallel to the hive's entrance. It seems that an invisible traffic signalman is controlling the movement of bees both inside and outside the hive. When a foreign bee gets into the tunnel, it can't go up. It flies in circles disoriented, until the guard bees drive it out."

Our bee corridor is an upgrade of the already known corridor effect

The bee corridor for preventing a bee robbery is an upgrade of the already known corridor or tunnel effect. We took a verified concept, upgraded it with a double tube corridor, which enables half-closing of the corridor, and made it from a durable ABS plastic material which is resistant to UV light and without any negative effect on bees.

By using the bee corridor anyone is able to protect their bees from bee robberies in the most efficient and tested way!

• The corridor is suitable for Anton Žnideršič beehive and other beehive systems with an entrance of at least 50 x 8mm.
• The corridor is made of high-quality ABS plastic with a very long service life.

When is the bee corridor used?

The bee corridor is inserted in the beehive entrance at the end of honey flow. This is in July, after the last honey extraction when the bee feeding starts. The corridor is kept in the beehive until winter, when it is removed from the beehive to provide better ventilation and facilitate the bees to remove dead worker bees from the beehive.

Narrowing a beehive entrance is not an effective defence against bee robberies

• The attacker bees enter the narrowed beehive entrance and get past the defender bees.
• As soon as the attacker bees invade the hive, they spread through its entire interior and fly to the honeycomb.
• Because the attack is spread, the resident bees cannot protect their hive and colony.

Using the bee corridor is an effective defence against bee robberies

• In the event of an attempted robbery, the attacker bees are forced to take the long corridor and they become confused and disoriented which enables the defender bees in the corridor or at its the exit to attack and drive them out.
• The intensity of the attack of a large number of attacker bees is neutralised since they must follow the corridor in a line, one by one.

The corridor cuts off the attacker bees’ direct way to the honeycomb and disorientates them so that they fly in circles. This way the guard bees can easily drive them away.

The effectiveness is additionally increased when the corridor is half closed with the closure plate.

With the closure plate, the entrance to the hive can be completely closed if necessary.

Bee Corridor reviews (german)