I had an interesting experience while working one of my hives a few weeks ago. While repacking (putting all the brood comb down below and honey above to get ready for the main flow) I stirred up not a few fees - who were flying around my face in a whir and bouncing off my veil. After awhile - I realized that most of the bees flying in this defensive manner were drones! Not as effective sting wise as worker guards - but a heck of a lot noisier. Has anyone experienced similar behavior? The same hive seems to be quite easy to rattle - or it might be my amateurish technique. The hive is a good honey and bee producer so I took a few combs for a nuc for emergency requeening of my other hives. I had been requeening other hives the day before and that morning - and this one resented the intrusion and I had 500 or so bees all over me - and got stung about 12 times. I think their queen is fine (an Italian) and the honeyflow is upon us when it's warmer and I was working the hive in the mid-day. Is this a standard/normal amount of defensiveness? I haven't been beekeeping long enough to know.... Many Thanks! Casey Burns Kingston WA