Colony defense  Cleaning behavior  Use propolis – bee w/ propolis on hind leg  Nest mate recognition R. Williamson Photo R. Williamson photo R. Williamson Photo * guarding

Worker use Pheromones in nest defense  Alarm pheromone  sting glands Sting left in victim Note: liquid at top right is from digestive system Bee stings in bee veil fabric

Other Worker Pheromones  Alarm  sting glands  Orientation  Nasanov gland  Hive odor  Trail pheromone Mixture of 7 terpenoids: E- & Z- citral, nerol, nerolic acid, geraniol, geranic acid & farnesol – from tip of abdomen scenting R. Williamson photo

Footprint substance  Alarm  sting glands  Orientation  Nasanov gland  Hive odor  Trail pheromone L. Connor photo

Hive Odor  Alarm  sting glands  Orientation  Nasanov gland  Hive odor  Trail pheromone Mixture of distinctive queen odor, hive food odors, worker odors, etc – each of these colonies may have distinctive odors – but with all colonies looking so similar, the hive odor distinction may be negated by drifting

Other Pheromones  Alarm  Orientation  Trail pheromone  Brood pheromone (different ages/caste/sex?)  Beeswax comb  others (Drones have odor?) R. Williamson Photo YES young brood = E-β-ocimene

Bee hives are smelly Beekeepers too sometimes

Field Bee “Work”  After 3 weeks workers take Orientation Flights (drones queens in 1 st week)  Then workers become field bees collecting….. nectar pollen propolis water

How do they find these resources?

Via Bee communication Not this way! By Dancing!

Communication  Bee Dancing – 3 basic steps – round waggle vibrating (scratch my back)

Wagtail Dance From Gould & Gould 1988 Source Gould & Gould Food away from sun Food toward sun’s azimuth positon Food 80 to left of sun Field – sun’s position Hive - gravity Distance to food Length of waggling segment + smell, taste Direction to fly