Abstract
In nurse bees a change in the biopterin and pantothenic acid content by external influences occurs only in the mandibular glands. The characteristic heterocyclic compounds for brood food for the queen and workers was found only in the pharyngeal glands. This finding and the histoautoradiographic proof of directed incorporation of biopterin [2-C14] indicate a secretion of the brood food as a primary food from the pharyngeal glands. Comparative histological studies show that in nurse bees there is an enlargement of the occiputal glands and an increase in number of the deep postgenal gland cells. The cooperation of the different glands in the production of brood food is discussed.

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