The sting bulb gland in myrmecia and Nothomyrmecia (Hymenoptera : Formicidae): A new exocrine gland in ants |
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| Institution: | 1. Laboratorio de Ecología Fisiológica y del Comportamiento, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina;2. Unidad de Bioinformática, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay;3. Departamento de Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay;1. Departamento de Biotecnología de los alimentos, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de los Alimentos (CSIC), Avda. Agustín Escardino 7, E-46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain;2. Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (CSIC, Universidad de la Rioja, Gobierno de La Rioja), Madre de Dios 51, 26006 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain;1. Department of Physics, Kansas State University, 116 Cardwell Hall, 1228 N. 17th Street, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA;2. Laboratory for Aerosol Science, Spectroscopy, and Optics, Desert Research Institute, Nevada System of Higher Education, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA |
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| Abstract: | A new exocrine gland has been discovered within the sting of the endemic Australian ants of the genera Myrmecia and Nothomyrmecia (Hymenoptera : Formicidae). It consists of approximately 20 secretory cells with their accompanying duct cells, located between the ducts of the venom and Dufour glands in the proximal part of ths sting bulb, hence my suggestion to designate it as the sting bulb gland. Ultrastructural examination reveals the development of both granular and smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the glandular cells, which possibly may indicate the elaboration of a rather complex secretion. Although the function of the gland remains unknown, its exclusive presence in these ants provides another argument for a closer phylogenetic relationship between both genera than is reflected by their actual classification. |
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