I wanted to thank you for your video on the angry hive. I went through something similar yesterday. One of my hives over wintered and although it was aggressive last year, it was even worse this spring. The stronger the colony got the more aggressive it became. I wanted to changeout my drone comb yesterday and had a similar situation. Bees were stinging me through my Leather bee gloves. I got as far as the first super and had to quit. They followed me across my yard and promptly attacked my dog.
I hate to do it but will likely follow your path on this.
My other two hives are gentle. I’m worried about the drones passing this on in the gene pool to other yards.
Thanks
Michael
Admin Reply by: bkcorner
Never a fun experience for sure. Since posting the video, there have been a handful of beekeepers who have been reaching back saying that they have had similar encounters. Some have mitigated the situations, while others have chosen the path I did. It seems it is not too common but based on those who have reached out, it is out there for areas that are not necessarily in "Africanized Colony" zones. One shared with me that they have vast experience and that by their estimation Africanized bees are several levels more aggressive than bees from Africa. Not sure if that is what is going on in our cases; but interesting none-the-less.