Glandular sources of exocrine secretions

This chapter considers only those exocrine glands whose secretions influence either the behavior or survival of other individuals of the same or different species. Glands that secrete nest materials and larval food are also included. 

A rich literature exists on the morphology and histology of apoid exocrine glands. Since the honey bee. Apis mellifera, is the best studied of all insects, it is not surprising that more is known about its glands than those of any other bee. Still, Pain (1973) estimates that there may be 31 pheromones in honey bees, of which only 13 had been identified by 1973. Older studies of glandular structure in A. mellifera are summarized in Snodgrass (1956) more recent studies, especially of fine structure, will be cited in this chapter. 

---