What chemical agents are released by the invading queen to suppress host workers?
Answer
Pheromones
Following the physical incapacitation or elimination of the host colony's resident queen, the invading *B. fernaldii* queen releases specific pheromones. These chemical signals are vital for establishing control over the remaining host workers. The pheromones chemically suppress the natural reproductive cycle of the host workers and quell their aggressive tendencies toward the invader. This manipulation tricks the workers into accepting the parasitic queen and dedicating their labor to raising her brood instead of their own larvae.
Related Questions
What is the scientifically designated name for the Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee?What specialized structure do female B. fernaldii lack that pollen-collecting bees possess?Which sex of B. fernaldii undertakes the risky business of nest invasion?What chemical agents are released by the invading queen to suppress host workers?Which species is frequently cited as a major host for Bombus fernaldii in the northeastern United States?How does the coloration of B. fernaldii males typically compare to that of the queens?What conservation designation does the Yellowish Cuckoo Bumblebee hold in New York State?According to field observation tips, what observation indicates a bee is likely a male or a female cuckoo?What tools does the invading B. fernaldii queen primarily use to physically overcome the resident host queen?Outside of the host nest, how does the queen's existence resemble the behavior of other bees?Which US state is mentioned as a location where B. fernaldii populations have been documented in the western part of its range?