> Smoke has been used to subdue honey bees for millennia; its use probably constituted one of the most fundamental and earliest breakthroughs in exploiting bees for honey. This study examines the effect of smoke on honey bee antennal response: Does smoke affect the sensory information from alarm pheromones?

> The mechanism by which smoke reduces antennal sensitivity may be due to chemical effects of the smoke. Compounds in the smoke may compete for binding sites on the antennal chemoreceptors or they may be toxic to the nerve cells. ... smoke seems to interfere generally with olfaction.

> Our evidence suggests that the effect of smoke on peripheral perception of alarm pheromones lasts for about 10-15 min. Some of the behavioral effects of smoke show a similar time course, such as the diminution of guard bee numbers ... chemically mediated alarm recruitment is disrupted because of compromised antennal receptivity.

Visscher, P. K., Vetter, R. S., & Robinson, G. E. (1995). Alarm pheromone perception in honey bees is decreased by smoke (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of insect behavior, 8(1), 11-18.

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