Identification of iso-amyl acetate as an active component in the sting pheromone of the honey bee
TL;DR
When a bee stings, it marks the target for attack. The chemical is iso-amyl acetate—it smells like bananas to humans but signals 'danger' to bees.
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First identification of the honeybee alarm pheromone (iso-amyl acetate)—establishing the chemical basis for coordinated colony defense and opening the field of insect chemical communication research.
Key Findings from Boch et al. (1962)
- Iso-amyl acetate (isopentyl acetate) identified as the primary alarm pheromone in bee stings
- The compound triggers aggressive orientation and attack behavior in other bees
- Each sting deposits alarm pheromone, creating positive feedback loop of escalating defense
- More than 20 additional volatile compounds later identified in the alarm blend
- Explains why beekeepers avoid banana-scented products (similar chemical structure)