The specific neural pathway by which 9ODA causes behavioral changes is not yet developed in bees, however research shows olfactory signals from floral odors are integrated to the level of mushroom bodies.
Changes in QMP's chemical composition following a queen's mating attracts young worker bees to her, fulfilling her feeding and grooming requirements.
[2] Behavioral changes in the workers as a result of QMP exposure is thought to be mediated through changes in juvenile hormone (JH) level.
QMP moderates the decrease in JH synthesis in young bees, preventing foraging behaviour.
[2] Slessor (2005) differentiates QMP from queen retinue pheromone, on the basis of three fatty-acid constituents which are not derived from the mandibular gland.
[3] Research has indicated that queen mandibular pheromones were capable of altering the physiology of the worker bees.
[4] Similarly, Nasonov gland size has been shown to decrease in worker bees who were not fed the queen mandibular pheromones as larvae.
The alcohol evaporates, leaving the queen pheromone which may enhance the chances of a swarm moving into a trap.