the queen (apis mellifera) laying eggs (Image by Adobe Stock)
Did you know that queen bees have a foolproof way to prevent stings?
Within the hive, the queen bee releases pheromones from a gland near her jaw that effectively "brainwash" the worker bees. Scientists have found that one of these pheromones, homovanillyl alcohol, suppresses dopamine production in worker bee's brains. Without dopamine, the bees are less likely to learn from negative stimuli.
Bees learn to react to negative stimuli with aggressive behavior – including using their stingers. Once this response develops, the impulse to sting becomes a reflex that could harm other bees or even the queen. The queen's pheromone causes the worker bees to retain only positive memories of their experiences in the hive, and ensures her own safety. The worker bees remain docile, and the hive itself is kept peaceful and safe.
If the queen bee's pheromones encourage peaceful behavior, why do bees sting people?
Not all of the hive's bees are under the influence of the pheromones. In fact, it's usually only the youngest bees that stay with the queen. As the worker bees mature they are rarely if ever around the queen. They leave the hive to begin to search for nectar. At this point, they become immune to the queen's pheromone, and dopamine production in their brains returns to normal levels, enabling them to assess danger and react appropriately.
Learn More
Sources
Casselman, Anne. "Queen Bees 'Brainwash' Workers with Chemicals." National Geographic News.
Everts, Sarah. "Queen's Pheromone Quashes Negative Memory Formation in Young Worker Bees." Chemical Ecology. 85.30 (July 23, 2007): 8.
Ray, L. Bryan. "The Queen of Dopamine." Science. 2 March 2007: 315.
Vergoz, Vanina, Haley A. Schreurs, and Alison R. Mercer. "Queen Pheromone Blocks Aversive Learning in Young Worker Bees." Science. 20 July 2007: 384‑386.
Von Radowitz, John. "Brainwashed Worker-Bees Ensure Dominance of Queen." The Independent. July 20, 2007.
