Nasonov Gland Scent Fanning

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Returning foragers often struggle to locate newly established nests without chemical guidance. Worker bees position themselves near the entrance, raising their abdomens to the Nasonov gland. By simultaneously their wings, they generate directed air currents that disperse volatile compounds into the surrounding air. This scent trail provides an unmistakable olfactory beacon, allowing disoriented nestmates to efficiently towards the hive opening.

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Questions 2–5

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Trophallactic Food Sharing Signals

During trophallaxis, pairs of worker bees exchange regurgitated liquid nectar through mouth-to-mouth contact. Beyond merely 1 nutrients, this interaction acts as a vital channel for chemical communication. Recipients quickly 2 subtle olfactory and gustatory cues dissolved in the fluid, learning which floral sources are currently abundant. Colony-wide food transfers thereby 3 foraging decisions without requiring every worker to directly 4 the external environment.

perceive
modify
sample
withhold
suppressing
distributing
coordinate

Olfactory Conditioning via Comb Odours

Inside the dark hive, recruited bees acquire floral scents clinging to the waxy cuticles of returning foragers. This sensory transfer acts as a form of social 1, conditioning receiver bees to target specific flower species upon leaving the nest. Experiments demonstrate that even brief olfactory contact 2 memory formation in the antennal lobes. Consequently, novice foragers can reliably 3 the advertised blossoms across diverse floral landscapes.

triggers
learning
discard
inhibits
identify
isolation

Dorsoventral Abdominal Vibration Signals

Certain workers perform the dorsoventral abdominal vibration, commonly known as the shake signal, by rapidly grasping a nestmate and vibrating vigorously. Rather than communicating specific directions, this mechanical pulse serves as a non-directional 1 mechanism. It elevates the general arousal of resting workers, prompting them to 2 to areas of high task demand. Colonies utilise this signal to 3 labour allocation when foraging opportunities suddenly improve.

relocate
activation
containment
hinder
adjust
retreat

Queen Retinue Pheromone Transmission

The queen honeybee secretes a complex mandibular blend that ensures colony cohesion. Attendant workers lick and groom the queen, absorbing these aromatic chemicals onto their own bodies. Acting as mobile 1, these attendants leave the royal retinue and circulate through the comb, passively 2 the scent to other workers via physical contact. This continuous dispersion informs the colony of the queen's presence, directly 3 worker ovary development and maintaining social order.

neutralising
suppressing
intruders
messengers
transferring
accelerating

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Honeybee Communication Systems