What’s That Smell?
Most beekeepers are aware that all queen bees carry a special “queen pheromone” that distinguishes their scent from that of worker bees. It is clear from observing basic honeybee behaviour that worker bees can quickly identify the queen’s scent, and it seems equally apparent that a pheromone is driving this behaviour.
What is less well known, however, is that beyond this general queen pheromone, each queen possesses her own unique scent — a distinct pheromone signature that belongs to her and her alone.
When a swarm is presented with two queens at a distance — one their own and the other an imposter — the bees will always choose their own queen and will attack the imposter. They immediately recognise the unique pheromone of their queen, even though both candidates smell like queens. One smells familiar; the other does not.
One might assume that a queen’s unique pheromone signature could be influenced by the fragrance of the blossoms the colony is foraging on. While this is partly true, it only tells part of the story. For example, if a colony has been foraging on sage blossoms, both the bees and the queen might begin to take on the aroma of sage. However, this is merely an enhancement of the underlying scent, which remains specific and inherent to each individual queen.
Scientists have confirmed this by removing a queen from her colony, exposing her to a strong but different scent, and then reintroducing her to the hive. Despite the new, overpowering aroma, the bees still recognised their queen by her fundamental pheromone.
A conscientious beekeeper must understand that any new queen will always smell different to the one she replaces — and the bees will notice this immediately. That’s why beekeepers use queen cages and sugar candy to slow the introduction process. This gradual approach allows the colony time to become accustomed to the new queen’s unique pheromone signature.
It is also why it’s wise not to disturb the hive shortly after introducing a new queen. During this crucial period, the colony needs time to become familiar with her scent and to accept her as their own. Any disruption that interferes with the spread of her pheromone may create confusion within the colony — possibly leading to the mistaken identification of the queen as an intruder, with potentially fatal consequences.
This article was written by Dennis Brown, a veteran beekeeper from Bryan, Texas (U.S.A.), with over 50 years of beekeeping experience since beginning in 1964. At one time, he managed 250 hives, raised his own queens, and performed all the duties of a commercial beekeeper. Dennis adapted or completely discarded many traditional beekeeping management practices found in books. Throughout his years with bees, he never introduced chemicals into his hives. Years ago, he started a “Survival of the Fittest” program that eliminated the need for chemicals. Dennis was a very successful beekeeper and enjoyed every minute of it. While there is much more to share about his beekeeping journey than space allows, his books capture the many changes and insights he developed over his career.
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