are domestic/farmer’s bees capable of defending themselves? i agree with the suspicion that the producers simply unleashed the hornets on the bees for the film. certainly they would have shown dead hornets or brave acts of defence instead of merely mentioning them…
I’m guessing part of the domestication process removed the bee’s more aggressive tendances so that the farmer wouldn’t get stung (too much) when he goes in to take their precious stash of goods.
[conjecture]
I think it more probable that a beehive was moved within the territory of a hornets’ nest (the hives are portable), in the hopes that the hornets would discover it. I don’t think you could just transport a gaggle of hornets about and sic them on the bees. I’m thinking they need a base of operations, i.e., their nest, from which to feel secure enough to lauch a raid. The paper wasps in my backyard form raids on plants which are rife with caterpillars, chop up the 'pillars, and them fly them straight back to their grubs while I watch.
[/conjecture]