Class III glands in the abdomen of Meliponini

Abstract

-Class III tegumentar glands were studied in workers, as well as in queens and males when available, of 56 Meliponini species. The presence and development of these glands varies widely among and within species. However, the queen typically has more glands than do workers, and males rarely have any. Gland development in workers was evaluated by counting and determining the size of cells in histological sections. Laying queens were found to have more active gland cells than did virgins. Cell numbers and cell ultrastructure differed among glands similarly located in workers, queens and males. Cell size and ultrastructure also varied from tergite to tergite. In conclusion, since it is likely that most of them produce pheromones, the wide variability in these glands suggests that they are important to social interaction. stingless bee / tergal gland / histology / ultrastructure / worker / queen / male

Post-embryonic Development of Intramandibular Glands in Pachycondyla verenae (Forel) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers

“…The white-eyed pupae of P. veranae also had no intramandibular glands, however, cell reorganization at this stage did occur and was likely due to proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells. The white-eyed pupae of Hymenoptera is the earliest period of internal organs modifications, because it has yet larval organs and absence of those present in adults (Soares et al, 2004, Azevedo et al, 2008, Santos et al, 2009bCruz-Landim et al, 2011 Intramandibular glands characterized as class I epidermal secretory cells or class III isolated glands can be definitively identified during the pink-eyed pupae stage of P. verenae in a manner similar to likely the labial, post-pharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and mandibular glands that also differentiate in Camponotus rufipes pupae (Gama 1978).…”

Virgin queen execution in the stingless beeMelipona beecheii: The sign stimulus for worker attacks

“…95% of the analyzed attacks in our study) might suggest that queen specific chemical compounds on the cuticle surface trigger the workers' aggressive behavior. This conjecture seems to be supported by the fact that stingless bee queens have a variety of abdominal exocrine glands that are lacking in workers (e.g., Guerino and Oliveira, 2002;Cruz-Landim et al, 2006) and by the known differences in the profiles of cuticular hydrocarbons, with chain length of 23-Virgin queen execution in Melipona beecheii 503 29 carbon atoms, between queens and workers (Abdalla et al, 2003;Kerr et al, 2004;Jarau et al, 2006). However, the virgins' rapid spinning movements, which lead to a more frequent presentation of the abdomen to the surrounding workers as compared to other body parts, could also account for the predominance of attacks towards it.…”

Queen bee acceptance under threat: Neurotoxic insecticides provoke deep damage in queen-worker relationships

“…There is no pre-established sequence for gynes to display such behaviors, and these behaviors decrease after a queen's acceptance (da Silva et al, 1972;Imperatriz-Fonseca and Zucchi, 1995;Nogueira-Ferreira et al, 2009;Santos et al, 2015;Araújo et al, 2017;Veiga et al, 2017). Nevertheless, it is believed that the first week after the queen's emergence is crucial for the workers' decision because during this period, the gynes acquire the glandular development needed for pheromone production (Cruz-Landim et al, 2006) and the sexual maturity for mating (da Silva et al, 1972;Imperatriz-Fonseca and Zucchi, 1995;Nogueira-Ferreira et al, 2009;Santos et al, 2015;Araújo et al, 2017;Veiga et al, 2017).…”