Bees are integral to many ecosystems, functioning as pollinators that support plant growth. Their work contributes significantly to global food security, as approximately 75% of the world’s food crops rely on pollinators like bees. Despite their stinging defense, bees are a natural component of the food web and serve as a protein-rich food source for various predators.
Invertebrate Predators of Bees
Numerous arthropods prey on bees. Spiders utilize diverse hunting strategies; some are web-building species that ensnare bees, while others, like ambush predators, wait to capture them. Predatory wasps also represent a threat to bee populations.
European hornets (Vespa crabro) are generalist predators that include honey bees in their diet, often targeting them for protein for their developing larvae. Yellow jackets (Vespula and Dolichovespula genera) actively hunt bees, especially in late summer when their colonies are at peak size and other food sources become scarce. These wasps may patrol hive entrances, capturing individual bees or even raiding entire hives for adults, honey, and larvae. Beewolves (Philanthus genus), particularly the European beewolf (Philanthus triangulum), are solitary wasps that specialize in hunting Western honey bees, paralyzing them to provision their underground nests for offspring.
Praying mantises use camouflage to blend into their surroundings before ambushing prey. They quickly snatch unsuspecting bees from the air with their powerful, spiny front legs, holding them in a vice-like grip. Robber flies (family Asilidae) are agile aerial predators that capture bees in flight, perching on plants and darting out to seize their prey. They inject digestive enzymes to immobilize the bee before consuming its internal fluids. Dragonflies, skilled aerial hunters, also opportunistically prey on bees, striking from above to avoid the bee’s sting.
Avian Predators of Bees
Birds consume bees, with some species specializing in this diet. Bee-eaters (Meropidae family) are colorful birds found predominantly in Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe, known for their preference for bees and wasps. These birds snatch bees mid-flight with their long, slender bills. They then repeatedly strike the bee against a surface to remove the stinger and discharge venom before swallowing their prey.
Other bird species opportunistically feed on bees. Some shrikes and flycatchers may occasionally include bees in their diets. Woodpeckers, while not primarily bee predators, might target bee larvae or entire nests by excavating into wood where bees have established colonies.
Honey buzzards, large birds resembling hawks, are specialist feeders that consume large quantities of bees, wasps, and hornets, particularly their larvae. They possess specialized feathering that protects their faces as they dig into hives to access the brood. Smaller songbirds like tanagers and cardinals may also consume bees, particularly during breeding season when seeking protein.
Mammalian and Other Vertebrate Predators of Bees
Mammals, amphibians, and reptiles prey on bees and their nests. Bears are widely recognized for raiding beehives, driven by a desire for both honey and the protein-rich bee larvae and pupae within the colony. Their keen sense of smell allows them to locate hives from a distance, and their strength enables them to tear apart hives, often leaving destruction.
Smaller mammals such as raccoons, skunks, and badgers also prey on bees. Raccoons may tear apart hives to reach honey and insects, while skunks approach hive entrances at night, scratching to lure out guard bees, which they then consume. Skunks have been observed rolling bees in the dirt to remove stingers before eating them. Badgers, including the honey badger (Mellivora capensis), dig into hives to consume both bees and honey. Mice can also infiltrate hives, causing damage by consuming comb and brood to create nests and contaminating the hive with their waste.
Among amphibians, toads and frogs are ambush predators that consume bees. They wait near hive entrances, especially at night, capturing bees with their sticky tongues as they come within striking range. While consuming individual bees, a presence of these amphibians can affect a colony.
Reptiles, primarily lizards, also prey on bees. Agile species like skinks and anoles position themselves near hive entrances or foraging areas, ambushing bees as they fly by. Geckos consume bees if available. Snakes are less common predators; some species eat bees.