Laboratory Test of the Response to an Alarm Chemical, Isopentyl Acetate, by Apis tnelufera1,2

Abstract

A laboratory test was developed to measure the response to isopentyl acetate (IPA) by the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. Bees 2-5 days old showed clear responses measured as seconds to react, duration of the reaction, and intensity of the reaction. An interval of 15 min or more between repeated tests was sufficient to produce consistent results. Groups of 10, 25, or 50 bees were adequate to evaluate a reaction, but a group of 5 was not. Increasing concentrations of IPA in paraffin oil (from 1:10,000 to 1:2) produced quicker, longer lasting, and stronger reactions. Measurements of the response by genetically defined bees using the lab test agreed with evaluations of their temperament in the field.