The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1987
Keith N Slessor, Whonnock, B.C., V2X 8X7, CA;
Lori-Ann Kaminski, Vancouver, B.C., V5L 2B3, CA;
Gaylord G King, Coquitlam, B.C., V3J 2R9, CA;
John H Borden, Burnaby, B.C., V5B 1Y3, CA;
Mark L Winston, New Westminster, B.C., V3L 1V5, CA;
Other;
Abstract
A novel combination of five queen-produced mandibular gland substances which can be used for controlling worker retinue formation around or in place of a honey bee queen Apis mellifera L. is disclosed. The composition comprises: 9-keto-2(E)-decenoic acid, R-(-)- and S-(+)-9-hydroxy-2(E)-decenoic acid, methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanol. Each component more or less is generally weakly active alone, but the blend of five compounds in a ratio corresponding to their occurrence in gland extracts imparts activity equivalent to queen mandibular extract at a level as low as 10.sup.-7 of that present in a queen. This blend of compounds initiates the retinue response, which includes the licking and antennating behaviour that signals the presence of a dominant reproductive queen, and thereby establishes and stabilizes the social fabric of the colony.