Morphology and ultrastructure of the pro- and postpharyngeal glands in workers of Pachycondyla sennaarensis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v62i2.270-275Keywords:
Brachyponera sennaarensis, propharyngeal gland, postpharyngeal gland, morphology, ultrastructureAbstract
The pro- and postpharyngeal glands of Brachyponera sennaarensis both appear as globular formations at a general anatomical level. However, only for the propharyngeal gland do these formations correspond with spherical secretory cells with diameters of 30-40 µm. For the lobed postpharyngeal gland, in contrast, this globular appearance is caused by the bulbous protrusions of the epithelial cells. This lobed appearance and globular cell shape also occur in the postpharyngeal glands of other Ponerinae and thus may represent a phylogenetic character. At the ultrastructural level, the propharyngeal gland cells are characterized by a well-developed granular endoplasmic reticulum, which is in agreement with its presumed production of digestive enzymes. The postpharyngeal gland cells contain a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which allows the production of a non-proteinaceous secretion.
Downloads
References
Al-Anazi, M., Al-Ashahrani, M. & Al-Salamah, M. (2009). Black ant stings caused by Pachycondyla sennaarensis: a significant health hazard. Annals of Saudi Medicine 29: 207-211.
Al-Khalifa, M.S., Ahmed, A.M., Mashaly A.M.A., Al-Mekhalfi, F.A., Khalil, G., Siddiqui, M.I. & Ali, M.F. (2010). Studies on the distribution of Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) in Saudi Arabia. 1. Ar-Riyadh Region. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 42: 707-713.
Amaral, J.B. & Caetano, F.H. (2005). The hypopharyngeal gland of leaf-cutting ants (Atta sexdens rubropilosa) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 46: 515-524.
Ayre, G.L. (1967). The relationships between food and digestive enzymes in five species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Canadian Entomologist, 99: 408-411.
Bagnères, A.G. & Morgan, E.D. (1991). The postpharyngeal gland and the cuticle of Formicidae contain the same characteristic hydrocarbons. Experientia, 47: 106-111.
Billen, J. & Peusens, G. (1984). Ultrastructure de la glande propharyngienne chez les fourmis formicines (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Actes des Colloques Insectes Sociaux, 1: 121-129.
Billen, J. & Morgan, E.D. (1998). Pheromone communication in social insects – sources and secretions. In R.K. Vander Meer, M.D. Breed, M.L. Winston & K.E. Espelie (Eds), Pheromone Communication in Social Insects: Ants, Wasps, Bees and Termites (pp. 3-33). Boulder: Westview Press.
Billen, J., Bauweleers, E., Hashim, R. & Ito, F. (2013). Survey of the exocrine system in Protanilla wallacei (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Arthropod Structure and Development 42: 173-183.
Billen, J., Mandonx, T., Hashim, R. & Ito, F. (2014). Exocrine glands of the ant Myrmoteras iriodum. Entomological Science, DOI: 10.1111/ens.12107
Bolton, B. (2003). Synopsis and classification of Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 71: 1-374.
Cruz Landim, C. & Hadek, R. (1969). Ultrastructure of Apis mellifera hypopharyngeal gland. Proc. 6th Int. Congress IUSSI, Bern, pp. 121-130.
Delage-Darchen, B., (1976). Les glandes post-pharyngiennes des fourmis. Connaissances actuelles sur leur structure, leur fonctionnement, leur rôle. Annales de Biologie, 15: 63-76.
Eelen, D., Børgesen, L.W. & Billen, J. (2004). Morphology of a novel glandular epithelium lining the infrabuccal cavity in the ant Monomorium pharaonis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Arthropod Structure and Development, 33: 471-475.
Eelen, D., Børgesen, L.W. & Billen, J. (2006). Functional morphology of the postpharyngeal gland of queens and workers of the ant Monomorium pharaonis (L.). Acta Zoologica (Stockholm), 87: 101-111.
Gama, V. & Cruz Landim, C. (1982). Estudo comparativo das glândulas do sistema salivar de formigas (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Naturalia, 7: 145-165.
Kürschner, I. (1971). Zur Anatomie von Formica pratensis Retzius, 1783. Morphologische Untersuchungen der sekretorischen Kopfdrüsen (Postpharynxdrüse, Maxillardrüse, Mandibulardrüse, Zungendrüse) under der am Kopf ausmündenden Labialdrüse. Beiträge der Entomologie, 21: 191-210.
Lachaud, J.P. & Dejean, A. (1994). Predatory behavior of a seed-eating ant: Brachyponera senaarensis. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 72: 145-155.
Levieux J. & Diomande, T. (1978). La nutrition des fourmis granivores. II. Cycle d'activité et régime alimentaire de Brachyponera senaarensis (Mayr) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insectes Sociaux, 25: 187-196.
Niculita, H., Billen, J. & Keller, L. (2007). Comparative morphology of cephalic exocrine glands among castes of the black ant Lasius niger. Arthropod Structure and Development, 36: 135-141.
Noirot, C. & Quennedey, A. (1974). Fine structure of insect epidermal glands. Annual Review of Entomology, 19: 61-80.
Paknia, O. (2006). Distribution of the introduced ponerine ant Pachycondyla sennaarensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Iran. Myrmecologische Nachrichten, 8: 235-238.
Phillips, S.A. & Vinson, S.B. (1980). Comparative morphology of glands associated with the head among castes of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Journal of the Georgia Entomological Society, 15: 215-226.
Schoeters, E. & Billen, J. (1991). Morphologie des glandes pro- et postpharyngiennes chez Atta sexdens. Actes des Colloques Insectes Sociaux, 7: 153-160.
Schoeters, E. & Billen, J. (1997). The postpharyngeal gland in Dinoponera ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): unusual morphology and changes during the secretory process. International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology, 25: 443-447.
Wetterer, J.K. (2013). Geographical spread of the samsum or sword ant, Pachycondyla (Brachyponera) sennaarensis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News, 18: 13-18.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Sociobiology is a diamond open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).