Beekeepers in Japan have been warned to be on their guard following a spate of hive thefts.
The price of honey bees has doubled in recent years after a ban on imports.
The BBC reports police suspect specialist thieves are stealing bees to order.
In one district, eight hives of 60,000 bees were taken in a single night from five separate farms.
The Japan Beekeepers and Honey Association says more than two million of the insects were stolen in 2009. They say thefts are becoming more frequent.
