Bees and Hornets?

[dronedave22]

Question, what strain or race of bee are better or more aggressive at defending their hive against invaders like hornets,wasps,ants ect...?
DAve

[yockey5]

I lay an asphalt shingle in front of every hive and the black ants don't seem to cross it. As for hornets, they eat honeybees but don't seem to have much impact on the colonies around here. Dragonflies eat them to. I have barn swallows and I think they eat honeybees as well.

[Kathyp]

I have barn swallows and I think they eat honeybees as well

they do and mine do more damage than any other critter.  every AM and PM they are swooping around my field eating bees.

[yockey5]

I don't think any race has much defense against these critters.

[BlueBee]

I've got carnis, Italians, mutts, and survivor bees.  I haven't noticed a difference in how they defend the hive.  I do believe the more bees you have per unit area of the entrance, the better protected the hive is.  I have seen wasps, hornets, and bumbles attempt to get into my hives, but I've never seen one succeed in getting out!  If your hives are getting attacked, I would attempt to solve the problem like you do when one hive robs another; namely reduce the entrance down to a smaller size. 

The other thing is, the bigger the hive, the more aggressive they usually get at defending it. 

[dronedave22]

Thanx for the responses, but I was wondering if this is a trait that could be genetically altered?  Just like honey production,egg laying, mite resistance and so on?
DAve

[yockey5]

Maybe AHBs? ;)