Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: twb on April 10, 2008, 04:22:39 PM

Title: What was the tiny droplet coming from the stinger?
Post by: twb on April 10, 2008, 04:22:39 PM
I picked up a crawling bee with my thumb and forefinger to look at it closely and it, of coarse, put out its stinger.  As I watched, a tiny droplet formed on the end of the stinger.  Was it the venom or the source of the alarm pheremone?  I waved the bee under my nose to see if I could smell the banana alarm smell and sure enough I did :). 
Title: Re: What was the tiny droplet coming from the stinger?
Post by: Cindi on April 11, 2008, 10:52:30 AM
Twb.  What you saw was the venom, that lovely stuff that makes us react -- the alarm pheromone is not in a liquid form, as far as I know, the alarm pheromone is considered a "volitile", hence it "floats" if this is how to describe it.  I have yet to smell the banana fragrance, and I yearn for that, what an experience that would be.  Love our life and live it well.  Cindi
Title: Re: What was the tiny droplet coming from the stinger?
Post by: JP on April 11, 2008, 11:01:21 AM
Hey Cindi, come on down to my neck of the woods and I can turn you on to all the banana scent your heart desires!!!  :-D :evil: :-*


...JP