Aggressive guard bees

[Meech]

This is my second year with bees. I have a hive of Buckfasts I started from a package last year. Three weeks ago, I opened the hive for the first time this season, cleaned out all burr comb, checked status, all seemed well. Bees were calm, no problems. Yesterday, after our recent spell of good weather I notice bees making orientation flights, sort of hovering in front of the hive, and bees coming in wth pollen. One bee starts dive bombing me, and isn't satisfied til she's stung me. Grab my gear, light the smoker, and go to see what's up. (My hive's in the backyard. I didn't see any of this last year.) Go through the hive, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Found nothing obvious. Saw a lot of drones coming and going, found my marked queen, nice tight laying pattern. Added a super, even though they weren't crowded. The hive was more excitable than last year. A few were buzzing me all the time I was in the hive. Today, I'm out in the yard, 30 feet away from the hive, and it happens AGAIN. I was going to do a split and had another Buckfast queen coming. Changed that to an Italian. Should be here in about ten days. Instead of the split, I think I'll just requeen these and see what if that tames them? Any ideas from the vast store of experience out there?

[fermentedhiker]

I wouldn't read anything into the one that got you today.  Doing an inspection is a fairly intrusive activity and there is always the possibility that they will be a bit defensive awhile afterward(even a couple of days possibly).  It's really not a whole lot different than when a skunk is bothering them when you think about it.  I also wouldn't jump to too much of a conclusion from a single suicidal guard bee.  My italian hive two years ago always had a couple cranky guard bees even though the hive as a whole was pretty docile.  Only you can decide if they are too aggressive for you, but I would wait and see if the behavior continues or if they are just having a bad week.  You never know they may have been fighting off another hives foragers trying to rob them earlier in the day etc......It'd be a shame to off a good queen because of some outside problem.  I have heard people on this forum say things about Buckfasts and aggressiveness but I haven't ever kept them so I can't comment on that.  Here's hoping the next time you check them that they are as calm as lambs :)

[Bee Happy]

I'm around my hives daily, some days I get head-butted, rarely I get stung for nothing. Most of the time they aren't disturbed by me.
I'm starting to think that when they're touchy I may have showed up around the time they're dealing with or just dealt with an intruder.

[MacfromNS]

If you do think that you want to requeen why not make a spit with the old queen just maybe your new queen may not work out.

[AllenF]

Don't second generation/ hybrid Buckfast queens get a little hot tempered?

[David LaFerney]

A couple of weeks ago I was getting head butted, this evening they completely ignored me while I painted the hives.   They are busy with the tulip poplar flow now, but I don't know what the difference is.

[Meech]

Good points all, and appreciated. I didn't get out ther until late today when it was late and cool, and there wasn't any activity. I will be iut there tomorrow evening when I get off work, to see what's up. The queen I ordered was originaly for a split, so I'll definitely give that some thought. Thanks all for your input. Regards, Mike

[BeeHopper]

It's what Guard Bees do, that's their job and they do it well  :evil: I have learned my lesson a few years back.
One day the Girls are just sweet, the next, BOOM ! right in the kisser. I don't care what anybody says, the protection gear goes on every time. :-D