Nasonov Gland
Lexikon
The Nasonov gland, also called the scent gland, lies at the rear end of a worker's abdomen, more precisely at the front part of the seventh tergite.
The Nasonov gland, also called the scent gland, lies at the rear end of a worker's abdomen, more precisely at the front part of the seventh tergite. It consists of around 500 individual gland cells and produces a mixture of scents whose most important component is the terpene geraniol, supplemented by other related substances. Many people describe the smell as floral or reminiscent of lemon balm.
Its openings are normally hidden under the last tergites and are only exposed during the characteristic fanning with raised abdomen, when the bee lifts her abdomen and pulls back the tergites. The scent is then actively spread into the air by fanning the wings and mixes with the specific odor of the colony in question.
In beekeeping practice it is important not to confuse the Nasonov gland with other scent organs of the bee, such as the venom gland at the sting or the mandibular glands in the head, each of which sends out quite different signals. Anyone who understands that the pleasant, floral scent at the entrance comes from this gland and serves the colony's orientation can better interpret the behavior of bees when a swarm is being hived or after a change of location.