Aggressive behavior of Apis mellifera L. workers towards introduced queens. II. Role of the mandibular gland contents of the queen in releasing aggressive behavior

Abstract

Removal of the mandibular glands from virgin queens eliminated the balling response of workers towards them. Worker bees coated with the contents of queen mandibular glands elicited aggressive behavior in sister workers; the aggression increased with an increasing amount of gland contents. The contents of glands removed while the queen was under complete anaesthesia appeared to provoke less worker aggression.