Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
All plant growth is dependent on day length, temperature, and available water and nu-
trients. In beekeeping literature there are a multitude of resources available that review
those plants that are nectar and pollen producers and when they bloom throughout their
growing range.
Nasonov Pheromone
When working a colony, you will often see worker bees on the landing board, fa-
cing the entrance. Look closely and you'll notice that their abdomens are raised in
the air with the tip bent down just a bit. This position separates the last two abdom-
inal segments, exposing a bit of the whitish integument below. Located at that spot
is the Nasonov gland, which produces Nasonov pheromone. Exposing that gland
allows some of the pheromone to waft away. To help distribute this sweet-smelling
chemical, the bee will rapidly beat her wings. She is said to be fanning or scenting.
This is intriguing behavior, and only workers can do it. Broadly speaking, this is an
orientation signal produced to guide disoriented, lost, or following workers back
to the hive.
Interestingly, when one bee begins fanning, it stimulates nearby bees to do like-
wise, and those bees that return begin to fan also. Very quickly you'll see many,
many fanning bees on the landing board or the top edge of an open super, guiding
their lost nest mates home.
This pheromone is also part of the glue that keeps a swarm together and all go-
ing in the same direction as it leaves its nest when heading for a new home.
Workers use this pheromone in a variety of other ways inside and outside the
hive. You may see bees scenting at a source of fresh water. What you'll notice
most, though, is that when you open a colony, the natural upward ventilation, par-
tially driven by the body heat of thousands of bees, wafts up the commingled,
subtle aromas of curing honey, stored pollen, and a good bit of Nasonov pher-
omone. This cocktail produces the distinct smell of a beehive. This is what makes
all colonies smell mostly alike, but all a bit different. There is no other aroma quite
like it or quite as attractive, to both a honey bee and a beekeeper.
