Defense Behavior of Honeybee Apis mellifera L. Hives: A Review

Abstract

Al-Etby, M.A.A.W. 2023. Defense Behavior of Honeybee Apis mellifera L. Hives: A Review. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 41(1): 85-92. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-41.1.085092 Beekeeping is an important agricultural activity that contributes to increasing agricultural production. Therefore, it has received a lot of attention through the ages. Despite this importance, it is still facing many problems in all countries especially in Iraq. One of the obstacles of honeybee industry development is the aggressive behavior of this beneficial insect. This review examined the complex integration of external stimuli, reactions, and response to olfactory, visual, and mechanical signals. It was concluded that the strength of the colony, its queen health, her production of eggs, and the abundance of food sources, all have a role in determining the aggressiveness of bees. The physiological explanation of this behavior is the secretion of alarming pheromone, isopentyl acetate, which leads to an increase in the level of serotonin and dopamine in the brains of bee workers. Moreover, the location of the olfactory and visual receptors, and the number of sensory cells in the antennae, which varies according to honeybee races, resulted in a complex response of defensive reactions that include guarding, recruiting, alerting, attracting, culminating, biting, stinging, and pursuing. Keywords: Defense behavior, aggressiveness, venom gland, alarm pheromones, honeybees.