Biology
Chemical Communication and Colony Defense in Honey Bees
Quick fact
Honey bee alarm pheromone, primarily isopentyl acetate, is released when a bee stings, and it acts as a chemical 'call to arms' that recruits nearby bees to attack the same target for up to 30 minutes.
Why this is interesting
When a honey bee stings, it releases a scent that turns the whole hive into a frenzy of defenders. What is this chemical signal, and how does it rally thousands of bees in seconds?