Beekeeping and science

Abstract

Chemical communication is one of the most fascinating areas of social insect science among which honeybee is the most known model. More than 50 pheromonal compounds had been identified in the honeybee, most of them triggering releaser effects to the receivers, and the queen mandibular pheromone had been the first primer pheromone identified in the animal kingdom. This chapter focuses on the latest findings in this topic, particularly the discovery of brood pheromones and the worker inhibitor pheromones regulating behavioral development of the nurse workers. We describe the finding of chemicals produced by the honeybee larvae involved in their recognition by the varroa mite. This work lead to the characterization of a brood pheromone involved in the recognition of the larvae and their needs by the workers and having primer effects on hypopharyngeal gland secretions and ovary development. This blend of chemical compounds also delays the age at first foraging, so that the larvae can manipulate the workers to achieve their needs. One compound of this blend, ethyl oleate (EO), had been found to be produced by forager bees to regulate the behavioral development of younger bees. So, the same compound, EO, is produced by different members in the colonies, the larvae and the foragers, to regulate the equilibrium between nurses and foragers, thus optimizing colony development. Potential uses of those pheromonal compounds in beekeeping are discussed.