“…In ants, the metapleural gland produces secretions with antiseptic and antifungal activity (Hölldobler and Wilson, 1990) while termites secrete strong antimicrobial compounds from their faecal pellets or from soldier frontal glands (Chen et al, 1998;Rosengaus et al, 2000). Venom glands of various ants, wasps and bees produce several compounds with antimicrobial activity (Park et al, 1995;Orivel et al, 2001;Storey et al, 1991;Turillazzi, 2006) representing one of the most important source of antimicrobial substances in social Hymenoptera (Kuhn-Nentwig, 2003). In some cases, the use of venom is beyond the classical stereotype of defence against predators and can be considered as a component of the social immunity (Cremer et al, 2007;Wilson-Rich et al, 2009;Baracchi et al, 2011).…”