Aggressive colony?

[Hawklord]

I inspected a colony on 24th of April and they were a little bit tetchy, consequently I couldn't find the queen so I closed up and left them to see if they would settle down. I inspected again on the 27th and moved the brood box to the other end of the apiary so I stood more chance of finding the queen, which I did and remarked her. They had got worse and I had noticed a couple of bees checking me and out as I went in to the apiary, there was no stinging but lots bouncing off my veil. On the 5th of May I was met 25 yards up the road as I parked the car so I thought it best to do something ASAP. The colony was on double brood and ready for a 2nd super with 11 frames of brood. I have done an AS, leaving the queen on 1 frame and a box of foundation with 2 supers. The rest of the brood has been divided into 2 nucs. The best idea I can think of is to now squash the queen and unite a colony with a better queen above it. My question is will replacing the queen change their behaviour or will I have to wait until the old queens progeny have died?

 

[MartinL]

. . . . . . . . . . . . .The best idea I can think of is to now squash the queen and unite a colony with a better queen above it. My question is will replacing the queen change their behaviour or will I have to wait until the old queens progeny have died?

mmm the great "Nature - Nurture" debate here!

However, it's all nature and genetics here. Aggressive bees bred from your queen will not be pacified when their queen dies. Possibly a little more displeased by her disappearance?

 

[YorkshireBees]

There can be many different reasons for a Defensive colony one of which is genetics from the queen.

I find the temperament of my colonies can vary over several inspections and I keep a note of how they were each time.

If and when you decide that it IS the Queens genetics replacing her will only affect the bees from the new queen so you have to wait circa a month to see the difference.

 

[Hawklord]

Might they feel happier with a better queen? The only bees left will be flyers, some of which will have to revert to house duties and wax building, but they will gradually disappear over the next 3 weeks.

 

[YorkshireBees]

Might they feel happier with a better queen? The only bees left will be flyers, some of which will have to revert to house duties and wax building, but they will gradually disappear over the next 3 weeks.

AFAIK Bees don't feel! Happy or sad or angry (hate the use of the term for describing bees behaviour!)

It is down to genetics and stress factors.

Bees born defensive will stay defensive to some respect.

I have a colony that the local bee inspector describe as rather 'Active and feisty' last year.
They are up and in my face (veil) as soon as you lift the crown board but boy do they brood well and collect a lot of honey.
As I keep the majority of my colonies in out apiaries at the sides of fields where generally they cannot affect anyone but myself I accept these traits in some colonies.
What I don't like is excess following.

 

[Hawklord]

It's definately genetics. The sister queen is heading a colony 10 feet away, that has 16 frames of brood and filling a 3rd super, and hardly need smoking. Also a lot quieter on the comb.