Queen substance
- Pronunciation
- /kween SUHB-stuhns/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Queen substance
- Plural
- Queen substances
Definition
A complex pheromone produced by the queen bee that regulates the behavior and physiology of the worker bees and maintains colony cohesion.
Etymology
Derived from Old English 'cwen' meaning 'queen' and Latin 'substantia' meaning 'substance'
Example
The queen substance inhibits the development of ovaries in worker bees, ensuring that the queen remains the sole egg-layer in the hive.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Pheromones
- Hive
- Worker bees
- Colony cohesion
Usage Notes
Queen substance is critical for the social structure of a bee colony, and its absence can lead to the development of new queen cells and potential swarming.