Much of a queen's power over her subjects may be attributed to her primer pheromone, which primes worker bees to work. It also forces them to lavish attention on the queen's offspring. Scientists had previously identified compounds in the pheromone, according to Slessor. In fact, he says, beekeepers now use a synthetic spray version of the chemical, to help farmers enhance pollination and increase yields by attracting bees to blooming crops such as pears, kiwi fruit, and apples. Turns out the queen makes primer pheromone in much the same way that worker bees crank out food for little larvae.
Life goes on, unless the colony gets too big.
It's the job of messenger bees to pick up material from the queen and transport it to the rest of the colony. If the hive is crowded, Slessor says, those on the periphery may think the queen is missing, so they'll raise a new queen. He thinks this chain of events triggers swarming and the establishment of a new bee colony. In scientific literature, reports of female insects using chemical attractants are commonplace. But a study at the Cornell Institute for Research and Chemical Ecology recently revealed just how resourceful male insects can be when they're seeking a mate.