On Wed, 15 Jun 1994, Casey Burns wrote:
 
> 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?
 
I see this a lot.  The drones in my hives always buzz angrily around me
when I get into the brood boxes.  They have a knack for getting right in
your face, and make quite an impact as they whack into the veil mesh.  They
do make a lot of noise, and are more visible due to their size, so I think
they definitely play a role (even if it is bluffing) in hive defense.
That "lazy males who only eat and mate" may be appealing, but I don't
think it is entirely true.
 
Rick Bodishbaugh