Stabilized Synthetic Brood Pheromone and Race-Specific Ratios of Components for Manipulating the Behavior and Physiology of Honey Bees

摘要

This invention relates to a 10-component stabilized synthetic honey bee brood pheromone and methods of stabilizing said pheromone by adding one or more antioxidants, thereby enabling the production and sustained use of commercial products based on that pheromone. The 11-component stabilized pheromone composition formed by adding the antioxidant tertiary-butyl hydroquinone to a synthetic blend of ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl stearate, methyl linoleate, methyl linolenate, methyl oleate, methyl palmitate and methyl stearate can be used in generic or race-specific ratios to manipulate the behavior and improve the performance of worker honey bees, resulting in overall increased vigor of the hive.