Which of the following pheromones is excreted from the stinger of a worker bee to signal other bees of a threat?

The correct answer is alarm pheromones, which are crucial for communication within bee colonies. When a worker bee perceives a threat, it releases alarm pheromones from its stinger. These chemical signals serve to alert other bees in the vicinity of the danger, prompting them to prepare for defense or to flee as necessary.

Alarm pheromones are specifically designed to induce a quick response among fellow bees, thereby enhancing the colony's collective reaction to potential threats. This phenomenon is a key element of social insect behavior, allowing for coordinated defense mechanisms.

In contrast, trail pheromones are used by bees to mark paths to food sources and are not involved in signaling danger. Sex pheromones serve to attract mates and are unrelated to alarming other colony members about threats. Epideictic pheromones are utilized to prevent overcrowding by signaling to others of the presence and location of individuals, which is also distinct from the function of alarm pheromones. Each type of pheromone plays a different role in bee communication, which is part of their complex social structure.