Abdominal integumental glands

In female Bombus, worker Apis, and queen (but not worker) Meliponinae, the thin anterior margin of tergum VII is the site of the Nasanov s or scent gland. It is composed of 500-600 closely packed Leydig cells. Abdominal terga III-V of queen y4. mellifera also possess complexes of Leydig cells (Renner and Baumann, 1964). 

The function and chemistry of the secretions of this gland in queen stingless bees and in bumble bees is unknown. 

---