Banana Smell Means Bee Alarm

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 strikingly similar to bananas to humans. 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.

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