Agressive bees

[Joann Davis]

We have a colony of ‘rescued’ bees that we’ve had in our small-ish back yard for about a year. It was a small colony when we first got it, but they’ve prospered nicely and now occupy three deep boxes. They seem to be a very healthy hive, producing lots of honey and brood. They’ve always been more feisty than the Italian colonies we’ve had previously, but in recent weeks they’ve decided that it’s THEIR back yard, and they’ve begun driving us out of there even when we’re not at all close to the hive. Usually it is a single bee that just circles round and round our heads, until we say ‘uncle’ and go inside. Now they have even started following us into the house.

For the first time in our beekeeping experience we’re afraid to have visitors in the yard because the bees are starting to behave just the way non-bee-people expect them to behave. And even we are now wary of being in the yard. Twice today, I was forced to come inside just while reading the newspaper on the patio.

Can anyone tell us what might be going on and how or whether we can fix this problem? We have read that the solution is to re-queen and see if the new queen produces a gentler brood in a few weeks. One problem with that is that we have never spotted the queen, although we know she is doing her job quite well. And if we could remove her, where would we get a replacement? ANd, having never done this, is there someone who could help? Or is it better just to try to start with a new colony, and if so, how do we find a place for this one?

We loved keeping bees, but this has become a serious problem. Can you provide any suggestions?

[susan rudnicki]

I think you need help from a more experienced mentor, on site. Splitting the hive may help, by forcing them to re-queen themselves. But you need to have some understanding of how to do splits and what to do if it does not tame their demeanor.
You do not mention how often you do inspections of the brood nest and when you take off honey. Are these bees on foundationless frames and have the frames been managed well to keep them free and parallel?
The drone strains the queen stores in her body can be quite different at different times, reflecting the various drones the queen originally mated with. There are experienced beeks in our club who will take hot hives, re-queen them, and split them. Your hive may have outstripped your capabilities and you may be better off re-homing them to a apiary keeper.

[Teri Hannigan]

As usual, this is excellent advice, Susan.

[Joann Davis]

I completely agree, which is why I posted!

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