Skip to main content
Log in

Nasonov pheromone of the honey bee,Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Part I. Chemical characterization

  • Published:
Journal of Chemical Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Composition of the Nasonov pheromone of the honey bee has been reexamined using new procedures, including analysis of pheromone from single live insects by capillary column GC-MS. Two new components have been identified, nerol and (E,E)-farnesol, and the presence of components proposed previously has been confirmed. Absolute amounts or relative proportions of components in the pheromonal secretion have been determined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avitabile, A., Morse, R.A., andBoch, R. 1975. Swarming honey bees guided by pheromones.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 68:1079–1082.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blum, M.S. 1971. The chemical basis of insect sociality, pp. 61–94,in M. Beroza(ed.). Chemicals Controlling Insect Behaviour. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boch, R., andMorse, R.A. 1974. Discrimination of familiar and foreign queens by honey bee swarms.Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 67:709–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boch, R., andShearer, D.A. 1962. Identification of geraniol as an active component in the Nassanoff pheromone of the honey bee.Nature (London) 194:704–706.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boch, R., andShearer, D.A. 1963. Production of geraniol by honey bees of various ages.J. Insect Physiol. 9:431–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boch, R., andShearer, D.A. 1964. Identification of nerolic and geranic acids in the Nassanoff pheromone of the honey bee.Nature (London) 202:320–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohlmann, F., Zeisberg, R., andKlein, E. 1975.13C-NMR-Spectren von Monoterpenen.Org. Mag. Res. 7:426–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, C.G., andCalam, D.H. 1969. Pheromones of the honeybee—the secretion of the Nassanoff gland of the worker.J. Insect Physiol. 15:237–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, C.G., Fletcher, D.J.C., andWatler, D. 1970. Hive entrance finding by honeybees (Apis mellifera) foragers.Anim. Behav. 18:78–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, A. W., Free, J.B., Pickett, J.A., andWinder, M. 1979. Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) pheromones involved in clustering I. Techniques and the effect of Nasonov and queen pheromones.Physiol. Ent. 4:339–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Free, J.B. 1970. Insect Pollination of Crops. Academic Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Free, J.B., andWilliams, I.H. 1970. Exposure of the Nasonov gland by honeybees (Apis mellifera) collecting water.Behaviour 37:286–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Free, J.B., andWilliams, I.H. 1972. The role of the Nasonov gland pheromone in crop communication by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)Behaviour 41:314–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mautz, D., Boch, R., andMorse, R.A. 1972. Queen finding by swarming honeybees.Ann. Emomol. Soc. Am. 65:440–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGregor, S.E.1976. Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants. Agriculture Handbook no. 496. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIndoo, N.E. 1914. The scent producing organ of the honey bee.Proc. Soc. Natl. Sci. Phil. 66:542–555.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morse, R.A., andBoch, R. 1971. Pheromone concert in swarming honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 64:1414–1417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pickett, J.A.,Williams, I.H.,Martin, A.P., andSmith, M.C. 1981. The Nasonov pheromone of the honeybeeApis mellifera (Hymenoptera. Apidae). Part III. Regulation of pheromone composition and production. In preparation.

  • Shearer, D.A., andBoch, R. 1966. Citral in the Nassanoff pheromone of the honeybee.J. Insect Physiol. 12:1513–1521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlenk, H., andGellerman, J.L. 1960. Esterification of fatty acids with diazomethane on a small scale.Anal. Chem. 32(11):1412–1414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sladen, F.W.L. 1901. A scent organ in the bee.British Bee Journal. 29:142, 143, 151–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, N.,Weaver, E.G., andLaw, J.H. 1964. The attractiveness of citral to foraging honey bees.Prog. Rep. Texas Agric. Exp. Sta. No. 2324, 7 pp.

  • Williams, I.H.,Pickett, J.A., andMartin, A.P. 1981. The Nasonov pheromone of the honey beeApis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Part II. Bioassay of the components using foragers. In preparation.

  • Zoubarev, A. 1883. A propos d'un organ de l'abeille non encore d'ecrit.Bull. Apiculture 5:215.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pickett, J.A., Williams, I.H., Martin, A.P. et al. Nasonov pheromone of the honey bee,Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). J Chem Ecol 6, 425–434 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01402919

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01402919

Key words

Navigation