Question

Honeybees produce an alarm pheromone when their hive is molested. This pheromone stimulates the bees to protect the hive. If you were to count the number of alarm pheromone receptors in honeybee tissues, which type of bee would likely have the most- a queen, a drone, or a worker? Why?

Short answer

Worker bees would likely have the most alarm pheromone receptors, given their responsibility for protecting the hive. The high number of receptors enables them to quickly respond to distress signals, ensuring the colony's safety. In contrast, the queen focuses on reproduction, and drones focus on mating, so they do not require as many alarm pheromone receptors.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the roles of each type of bee in the hive

In a honeybee hive, there are three types of bees: the queen, drones, and workers. The queen is the mother of all bees in the colony and is responsible for reproduction. Drones are male bees whose primary purpose is to mate with the queen. Workers are female bees that perform various tasks within the hive, such as foraging, feeding larvae, and protecting the hive.

Examine the need for alarm pheromone receptors in each type of bee

Alarm pheromones are released when the hive is disturbed, signalling the bees to protect the hive. The queen, being the reproductive center of the hive, is essential for the colony's survival and must be protected. However, the queen herself does not protect the hive but is guarded by worker bees. Drones, on the other hand, do not participate in any hive-related tasks and are mainly concerned with mating with the queen. Worker bees are responsible for most tasks in the hive, including defending the colony.

Determine which type of bee would likely have the most alarm pheromone receptors

Considering the roles and responsibilities of each type of bee, worker bees would be the most likely to have the most alarm pheromone receptors. This is because they are the primary protectors of the hive and must respond to any threats quickly. The queen and drones, on the other hand, do not have roles in protecting the hive, so they would not require as many alarm pheromone receptors.

Explain the reasoning behind the conclusion

Worker bees would likely have the most alarm pheromone receptors because they are responsible for protecting the hive. The presence of numerous receptors allows them to quickly respond to distress signals from other bees, ensuring the safety of the colony. In contrast, the queen needs to focus on reproduction, and drones need to focus on mating, so they do not require a high number of alarm pheromone receptors.

Key concepts

alarm pheromone

Alarm pheromones play a crucial role in the survival mechanism of a honeybee colony. These chemical signals act like a call to arms, alerting bees to danger and prompting them to protect their hive. When a honeybee detects a threat, it releases these pheromones into the air, signaling other bees to be on high alert.

The alarm pheromone is specifically designed to trigger an aggressive defense response. This response is vital as the hive's safety ensures the survival of the entire colony, including the reproduction-focused queen and non-defending drones. Worker bees, being the primary defenders, rely on a heightened sensitivity to these pheromones to mobilize quickly against intruders.

• The alarm response begins with a sting, which amplifies the pheromone's release.
• This not only marks the threat but also spreads the alarm to nearby bees.
• The chemical makeup of alarm pheromones is complex but highly effective in urgent communication within the hive.

Understanding alarm pheromones and their impact on behavior helps us appreciate the intricate ways honeybees protect their community.

honeybee hive roles

The structure of a honeybee hive is a well-organized system with each bee playing a specific role. The colony's survival depends on the harmonious collaboration of these roles.

There are three main types of bees in a hive:

• Queen Bee: She is the largest bee and the colony's mother. Her primary role is reproduction. She lays thousands of eggs and maintains the genetic diversity and continuity of the hive.
• Drones: These are male bees whose sole purpose is to mate with the queen. They do not have stingers and do not participate in defending the hive or performing other tasks.
• Worker Bees: These are female bees responsible for almost all work within the hive. They handle nesting duties, nurturing the young, foraging for pollen and nectar, and protecting the hive.

The efficiency of the hive is due to each bee type sticking to their responsibilities, ensuring the survival and success of their colony.

worker bee responsibilities

Worker bees are the backbone of the honeybee hive. These female bees are multitaskers, taking on a variety of responsibilities to keep the hive running smoothly.

Their duties evolve as they age. Initially, young worker bees stay inside the hive, cleaning cells and feeding larvae. As they mature, their responsibilities expand to include hive construction and temperature regulation.
Eventually, they become foragers. This involves venturing out to collect nectar and pollen, fundamental resources for the hive's food supply and wax production. Among their crucial roles, defending the hive stands out as particularly important.

• Worker bees have a well-developed sense of smell and many alarm pheromone receptors, making them sensitive to threats.
• They work collectively to sting intruders and protect the hive from harm.
• Their diligence in both defense and resource collection ensures the hive remains healthy and productive.

Through their hard work, worker bees underscore the hive's success, showcasing the power of teamwork and division of labor in nature.