What behavior do "robber bees" exhibit?

Robber bees exhibit behavior where they invade other hives to steal honey. This is a common tactic particularly seen in times of resource scarcity, when flowers are not abundant, and nectar is hard to find. The primary motivation for this behavior is survival—robber bees are often from colonies that are experiencing a shortage of food. By raiding neighboring hives, they can gather food resources without expending the energy required to collect nectar and pollen themselves.

In the context of a beekeeping operation, recognizing this behavior is important because it can lead to conflicts between hives, potential disease spread, and loss of resources. The other options, while related to various bee behaviors, do not accurately describe the specific activity of robbing. For instance, protecting the hive, pollination, and gathering nectar are all positive behaviors linked to colony maintenance and survival but distinguishable from the aggressive and opportunistic nature of robbing seen in these bees.