The Conditions Under which Foraging Honeybees Expose their Nasonov Gland

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Abstract
“Scout” honeybees searching for forage were attracted to the odour from the Nasonov gland of previous foragers. Foragers did not usually expose their Nasonov gland until after the first few visits to a food source, even when this was abundant and attractive. Some foragers exposed the gland more often and for longer than others did. The tendency of bees to expose their Nasonov gland was not influenced by: the presence of Nasonov-gland odour at the food source; the replacement of syrup as a food source by honey (even in close proximity to a strange colony, as when robbing takes place); the addition to a food source of obvious visual orientation marks, or of certain scents (benzyl acetate, methyl benzoate). The addition of a floral scent (geraniol) to an odourless food discouraged bees from exposing their Nasonov gland, although some did so even when foraging on natural flowers to which sucrose syrup had been added.