Honey bee guards will antennae bees as they land on the hive landing platform. Why do they exhibit this behavior?
Bees entering the hive allow the guard bees to examine them with their front legs and antennae. The guard bees can determine if a bee belongs to its colony by the bee's odour, as each hive has a distinct odour. Worker bees that belong to the colony are allowed to enter and others are not allowed and sometimes mercilessly killed in a fight.
Honey bee guards will antennae bees as they land on the hive landing platform. Why do...