Hi All Chris mentioned that before swarming bees get angry. This is for a number of reasons. In our bees here, and this will apply for most bees I am sure, as bees become older they are more aggressive. Hence after a dearth they can be rather ratty as the hive populations average age has drifted towards a higher number of weeks. A young hive population is conversely less aggressive. Often people say if the bees have lots of honey they are cross. This I have found to be rubbish as I have had hives of aggressive lineage that had four supers ful with two brood boxes of brood and they were no less aggressive than when they only occupied one brood box. However, many will have noticed that a honeybound hive is more aggressive, especially just before it swarms. Thereafter it is very peaceful. Also, a failing queen willl cause the pop to age, but a failing queen who fails pheremonally will cause the workers to develop ovaries and then aggression goes down (laying worker syndrome). Keep well Garth Garth Cambray Camdini Apiaries Grahamstown Apis mellifera capensis Eastern Cape Prov. South Africa Time = Honey After careful consideration, I have decided that if I am ever a V.I.P the I. may not stand for important. (rather influential, ignorant, idiotic, intelectual, illadvised etc)