Bees can distinguish between bees from their own colony and bees from other colonies by chemical cues on the body surface. Bees develop different chemical profiles based on their genetic background and colony environment. Newly emerged bees do not have a strong chemical profile, and thus can be accepted into other colonies easy. Recent studies have demonstrated immuno-stimulation results in changes in these chemical profiles. Immunostimulated bees are treated as “strangers” and attacked by their nestmates. These studies have only been performed using artificial cage assays thus far, and it remains to be determined if bees can recognize sick nestmates in the colony.

- Christina Grozinger, Pennsylvania State University

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