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Identification of Iso-Amyl Acetate as an Active Component in the Sting Pheromone of the Honey Bee

Nature volume 195, pages 1018–1020 (1962)Cite this article

Abstract

THE sting of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) carries volatile substances which incite bees to aggression. This was first demonstrated by Huber1, who elicited attacks by the guard bees when he placed freshly excised stings or the odour of stings near the hive entrance. Free2 found that cotton balls containing stings were more frequently stung than control balls.

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References

  1. Huber, F., Nouvelles observations sur les abeilles, 2 (1814). Trans. Amer. Bee J., Hamilton, Ill., (1926).

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  2. Free, J. B., Animal Behaviour, 9, 193 (1961).

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  3. Karlson, P., and Butenandt, A., Ann. Rev. Entomol., 4, 39 (1959).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Entomology Research Institute,

    R. BOCH

  2. Canada Department of Agriculture, Analytical Chemistry Research Service, Ottawa

    D. A. SHEARER & B. C. STONE

Authors
  1. R. BOCH
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  2. D. A. SHEARER
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  3. B. C. STONE
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BOCH, R., SHEARER, D. & STONE, B. Identification of Iso-Amyl Acetate as an Active Component in the Sting Pheromone of the Honey Bee. Nature 195, 1018–1020 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/1951018b0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1951018b0

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