How do honeybees defend their hives?

Honeybees defend their hives through coordinated attacks and chemical signals. When a threat is detected, guard bees release an alarm pheromone to alert the colony. Worker bees swarm the intruder, using their stingers to deter or neutralise the threat. Some species, like the Asian honeybee, also perform defensive behaviours such as forming heat balls to overwhelm predators like wasps. These strategies ensure the survival of the hive and its queen.