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The alerting pheromones of the honeybee

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Summary

When honeybees sting an object they release pheromones that direct the attack of other bees towards it. 2-heptanone is the principal aggression-provoking component in the secretion of the mandibular gland. Isoamyl acetate is not the only active component of the aggression-provoking secretion at the base of the sting but no such component occurs in the venom itself.

Zusammenfassung

Wenn Honigbienen stechen, lassen sie Pheromone frei, die andere Bienen zum Angriff gegen das Objekt veranlassen. Das 3-Heptanon ist das vornehmste zum Angriff reizende Sekret der Mandibeldrüse. Das Isoamylazetat ist nicht der einzige wirksame Bestandteil des zum Angriff reizenden Sekrets an der Stachelbasis, aber im Gift selbst ist kein ähnlich wirkender Bestandteil vorhanden.

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Free, J.B., Simpson, J. The alerting pheromones of the honeybee. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 61, 361–365 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428008

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