New exocrine glands in ants: the hypostomal gland and basitarsal gland in the genus Melissotarsus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Naturwissenschaften. 2014 Jul;101(7):527-32. doi: 10.1007/s00114-014-1186-y. Epub 2014 Jun 6.

Abstract

Fisher and Robertson (Insect Soc 46: 78-83, 1999) discovered the production of silk-like secretions emerging from slit-shaped openings along the anterior margin of the ventral hypostoma of Melissotarsus ant workers. The current histological study describes a hitherto unknown hypostomal gland from which this silk-like substance originates. In addition, this study describes a new basitarsal gland in the three pairs of legs of Melissotarsus workers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ants / anatomy & histology
  • Ants / classification
  • Ants / ultrastructure*
  • Exocrine Glands / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning