The knock-out effect of the chemical secreted in the honey-bee bite, known as 2-heptanone, was discovered as Dr Papachristoforou and colleagues observed bees dealing with pests.

BBC: Honey-bees found to have bite that stuns

To stun pests, the 2-heptanone is injected at the site of the bite a bee inflicts on a mite, moth or larvae.

BBC: Honey-bees found to have bite that stuns