The first removal of a season is often a painstaking process. As in it hurts. As in we get stung a lot. Why, you ask? Because the bees know it's not truly spring yet (especially if its before the last freeze). Therefore they are more defensive, wanting to protect their remaining honey stores from their neighbor bees (and mammals like us). You can see the color variance in the combs indicating the new comb built recently compared to the older, darker (and stiffer comb) from the previous seasons (going back fall, summer then spring 2024).