I would love to get some systematic DNA testing here, to quantify what my
anecdotally good results are saying scientifically, but I do not have any
ready ways into that community...  I have a small business and am
relatively new at it (est. 2011); not a scientist by training myself but
rather an enthusiastic autodidact.

Anyway, I have only experienced about 4 hives (out of all the ones I have
cut out and rehived, maybe 150? I have never actually counted) that were
too hot. Most of the "serious" hobby beekeepers nearby that I know have
similar experience- you just get a bad one once in a while, or more sadly,
one that turns bad. It isn't much of a decision, not like there's a fine
line... My regular hives can be smoked, wait a few minutes, open up and do
your manipulations while having a pleasant conversation with the other
person there. Maybe smoke once or twice more if they seem to be getting
agitated, which consists of a higher level "hum" and faster
flight-patterning. The hives that are unworkable go something like this:
You smoke around the boxes, crack the top and push some smoke in. Wait. Go
ahead and open it. Okay so far. You put your tool in to remove a frame,
maybe even start to lift it out and "ROAR" they come pouring out at you.
There's nothing like it. There's no mistaking it. They cover the face of
your veil and it's no fun at all, no conversation possible. You pump out as
much smoke as you can, close up and that's that.

There are three ways I have to deal with this: (1) Let Alone. In a
significant number of cases these queens will go through cycles of drone
sperm and finally arrive at some genetics that allow a better attitude.
This is possible only if the bees are in an isolated area. I have done this
twice. (2) Divide and Conquer: Split the hive into single-unit components
and one box at a time, look for the queen and pinch her and let them
requeen themselves. Any new queen has a high likelihood of being better
than the old one, since we don't see that much of this kind of AHB
behavior. In Los Angeles this cannot be done in a backyard setting; the
hive must be removed to a remote area. I have done this twice. (3) Put them
down. I know several beekeepers in SoCal who use soapy water, kerosene, all
kinds of homemade stuff to kill the hive. I have not done this yet. But I
reserve the option.

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html