What does the Nasanov gland do in honey bees?

The Nasanov gland plays a crucial role in the communication and social behavior of honey bees by releasing an orientation pheromone. This pheromone is particularly important for helping bees identify and recruit other members of the colony to various tasks, such as foraging and locating the hive during swarming. When a bee is at a forage site, it can use the pheromone from the Nasanov gland to signal other bees, indicating the quality and availability of food sources. This pheromone enhances the coordination of the colony's activities, allowing them to function more efficiently as a unit. The Nasanov gland, located on the abdomen of the bee, is both a communication tool and a means of facilitating hive dynamics, demonstrating its fundamental importance in bee society.