Bees have many ways to communicate, even using vibrations on the honeycomb they build. However, the most important and powerful communication mechanism is through pheromones — chemical signals secreted that trigger a behavioral response in other bees. If you were to ever smell bananas while walking through the woods, treat it as a precaution and move away slowly and quietly. Honey bees release an alarm pheromone when they become agitated or sting, and the main chemical in that signal, isopentyl acetate, smells to humans strikingly similar to bananas. Scientists identified this compound as a key component of honey bee alarm pheromone in the mid-20th century, and it helps recruit nearby bees into defensive behavior around the hive. Because the same scent can trigger defensive responses, experienced beekeepers also advise avoiding bananas near disturbed colonies or swarms.
