The parasites produced queen-like  pheromones falsely signally the presence of a queen suppressing the reproduction of worker's native to the colony and policing or destroying these eggs. Alternative slicing of a gene homologous to the gemini transcription factor of Drosophila controls worker sterility. Knocking out an exon resulted in rapid worker ovary activation.
The parasites generated queen-like pheromones, falsely signaling the presence of a queen to suppress the reproduction of worker bees native to the colony and policing or destroying these eggs. Altering a gene similar to the gemini transcription factor in Drosophila controls worker sterility. Removing an exon led to rapid activation of worker ovaries.