Well....it happened

[Nock]

Finally got stung today. Actually 5-6 times on my hand. One hive has been more aggressive. They would come up and hit my hand but never sting me. It?s always whatever hand is on the front side of hive. I guess that?s where most the guard bees are. Do they get more aggressive as it gets hotter and there are more more bees? 

[FatherMichael]

Each hive has a personality of its own with breed being a determinant.

I like Italians because they seem to have a balance between defensiveness and production.

Texas feral bees once ate me alive.  Midnights (showing my age) were gentle but got little surplus.  The Midnights were worked bare handed.

Smoke and gear are the great equalizers.

[yes2matt]

Finally got stung today. Actually 5-6 times on my hand. One hive has been more aggressive. They would come up and hit my hand but never sting me. It?s always whatever hand is on the front side of hive. I guess that?s where most the guard bees are. Do they get more aggressive as it gets hotter and there are more more bees?

We individually have thresholds for tolerance of defensiveness in our bees. I have a low threshold because I like to wear only a veil for PPE. If temperament is determined to be caused by genetics, not other factors like being harassed, pest load, Q-less, excess vibration, etc, you might consider to requeen from the gentle hive.

There's a hundred ways to do that, or at least five, but common to them all is approaching solstice and aummer dearths, depending on location. In my location, if I was going ro requeen from my own hive, this or next week are the end of the "easy" season to do it.

[paus]

Our club was discussing the traits of different hives and some of us were of the opinion that the belligerent hives were better survivors, and were better honey producers .  Most of those that observed this were using no foundation thus the bees seemed to be smaller.  Some 'EXPERTS SAY SMALL BEES DEVELOPE QUICKER AND HAVE LESS MITE INFESTATION".   

[saltybluegrass]

One thing I noticed oh bluegrass brother was once my hives became established, there was something worth fiighting for.
I know your hives are relatively young like mine but they are in there working and don?t need you bothering them-
Take the first bump as a warning and clear out.
My ear got hit two days ago - I look like a Mad Magazine

[BeeMaster2]

Try using the 10 minute/30 second rule for smoking your hives. It really calms them down. Lately all I?m using is a spray water bottle for adding supers on big hives. Works pretty well. You need screen top boards to do this. 
Jim Altmiller

[paus]

Jim are yo0u leaving shavings in the top screen as the weather warms up?

[BeeMaster2]

No, I use metal coated foam insulation boards.  One in the top board and one in the Screen Bottom Board.
Jim Altmiller

[Barhopper]

If your nuc is somewhat aggressive it?s not going to get better. Temperament will show when you get a full hive of bees. Once you have 4 or 5 boxes on you?ll know what you?re working with.

[Ben Framed]

No, I use metal coated foam insulation boards.  One in the top board and one in the Screen Bottom Board.
Jim Altmiller

Jim, I have been using 1?? thick blue foam board from Lowes since late last fall. So easy to cut with a multi-master tool. Works very well so far and no bee has chewed on any of them, (so far).  I am thinking of leaving these on for the entire four seasons. Would there be a good reason to not do so? It has reached the nineties and It seems to be doing no harm, or is this wrong and there is something that I need to know? Thanks,
Phillip 

[BeeMaster2]

I keep insulation in the top and in the Screen Top Board all year around. It works real well for me.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

I keep insulation in the top and in the Screen Top Board all year around. It works real well for me.
Jim Altmiller

Thank you Sir

[Nock]

Thanks. I?ll be trying this.

[Ben Framed]

Thanks. I?ll be trying this.

Nock, what Jim is using might be better than what I am using. My insulation board of choosing is the one inch blue 4 X 8 sheet which come form Lowes, as I said earlier. But, I do have an advantage over some types of insulation, such as the bubble wrap etc. Mine can be uses as the actual hive top! Simply cut to fit with a multimaster, or a harbor freight multifunction tool, use the rounded blade. Makes smooth beautiful cuts which look professional! If you choose to use these as your top, be sure to weight it down with something such as a  half brick or similar weight. Once in place, it will be stuck down by the bees using propolis.  But even still I keep something on top for insurance. I have never had one blow off even in sixty-mlle winds. Good luck.
Phillip

[BeeMaster2]

The thicker insulation is probably better but some of my tops are not very deep. Having foil on the top and bottom makes a big difference. I make the ones that are in the Screen Top Boards so that I can lift them out and see what the bees are doing. It also allows me to spray water on to the top of the hive so that I can open it without smoke and add supers.
Jim Altmiller

[Acebird]

Do they get more aggressive as it gets hotter and there are more more bees?

They get more defensive as the hive has more to protect.  They are most aggressive during dearths.

[Ben Framed]

The thicker insulation is probably better but some of my tops are not very deep. Having foil on the top and bottom makes a big difference. I make the ones that are in the Screen Top Boards so that I can lift them out and see what the bees are doing. It also allows me to spray water on to the top of the hive so that I can open it without smoke and add supers.
Jim Altmiller

I like the screen idea, that would work in my case also.