What is the role of the queen substance pheromone?

The queen substance pheromone plays a crucial role in maintaining the social structure and harmony within a honeybee colony. This pheromone is secreted by the queen bee and serves primarily to indicate her presence to the worker bees. By detecting this pheromone, worker bees can recognize that the queen is healthy and active, which helps regulate the colony's activities, such as brood care, foraging, and hive maintenance.

Moreover, the queen's pheromone helps suppress the development of ovaries in worker bees, ensuring that they remain focused on their roles rather than attempting to reproduce. This communication method is vital for the colony's cohesion and overall functioning, reinforcing the queen's role as the central figure in the hive's social order.