Behavioural Studies on Queen Introduction in the Honeybee 3. Relationship Between Queen Attractiveness to Workers and Worker Aggressiveness towards a Queen

Summary

Workers in 4 colonies were not more attracted to their own mated laying queen in a cage than to a strange mated laying queen. One of the latter queens, however, had no mandibular glands, and she was significantly less attractive than 3 normal queens. The workers of 2 colonies were significantly less attracted to the four queens than were the 4 other colonies tested. Individual variations in attractiveness of 20 sister laying queens of same age were observed. Also, workers from some colonies were more attracted to the queens than were workers from other colonies. Caged workers accepted their own queen or a queen that showed similar attractiveness, and rejected one of different attractiveness. A direct correlation was found between the weight of queens at emergence and when laying (2 months old). The heavier queens were more attractive to the workers than the lighter ones.