Mandibular Gland Pheromone of Worker Honeybees

Abstract

THE mandibular gland secretion of the worker honeybee, Apis mellifera L., contains 10-hydroxy-Δ²-decenoic acid¹ and, at least in older workers (foragers), 2-heptanone². Maschwitz³ reported that the secretion of this gland evoked an aggressive reaction from bees at the entrance of their hive, and Shearer and Boch² obtained a similar reaction with 2-heptanone. Simpson⁴ found that the mandibular gland secretion, which has a strong but fugitive smell, repels foraging honeybees when added to a dish of sucrose syrup. I have shown that 10-hydroxy-decenoic acid does not repel foraging honeybees but that 2-heptanone does.