Elmer Pane first came to light in the 1940's while he was attempting to make a living as an exterminator.  Either due to the quality of his services or his chronically dirty and disheveled appearance, Pane found few clients and lived a meager existence.  One day contemplating the biology of insects, Pane hit on the idea that he could successful if he could harness the powers that insects have and convey them to humans.  He spent his minimal savings and managed to isolate hormones that gave insect powers to humans but found they reduce the injected individual's intelligence to a very low level.

His funds spent, Pane decided to turn to crime.  He offered to use his serum on henchmen, creating an army of variously powered drones to aid local crime lords in their activities as the King Bee.  His services were greedily consumed and the cut of the profits made Pane quiet wealthy.  He moved to a remote area and expanded his lab and criminal operations.  In time, local authorities became overwhelmed and appealed to the Justice Society to intervene.  After finding Johnny  Thunder affected by fly hormones, the heroes resolved to end the threat of the "King Bee".

The range of minions deployed by the King Bee was remarkable.  Hawkman battled men with the powers of termites while the Sandman stopped a robbery by those with the abilities of borer beatles.  The Spectre encountered human water bugs and Dr, Fate human hornets.   Dr. Mid-Nite battled spider men, Starman human ants and the Atom human grasshoppers.  Finally Johnny Thunder returns to the cafe were he was infected with fly hormones and discovers the origins of the problem.

Each of the JSA, having defeated their adversaries, converge on King Bee's lab in the great forest.   The insect master quickly unleashes attack dogs but they are quickly routed bu Johnny's Thunderbolt.   When they burst in on Pane, he swears not to be taken alive but is easily disarmed and carted off to prison (All-Star Comics #18),