Occurrence, morphology and ultrastructure of the Dufour gland in Melipona bicolor Lepeletier (Hymenoptera, Meliponini)
Rev. bras. entomol
;
48(1): 9-19, mar. 2004. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-389150
ABSTRACT
The occurrence, morphology and ultrastructure of the Dufour gland in Melipona bicolor Lepeletier, 1836 are presented. The Dufour gland is not present in workers. In virgin queens the gland cells show characteristics of low activity, which are described in the text. In physogastric queens the gland epithelium is higher and the cells more active than in virgin queens, showing numerous basal plasmic membrane invaginations impregnated by an electrondense material, increased apical invaginations and accumulation of substances that will be released to the gland lumen in the subcuticular space. Therefore, the data show that the Dufour gland is more developed in physogastric than in virgin queens, indicating a possible involvement of the Dufour gland in the reproduction of this species.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Bees
/
Exocrine Glands
Language:
English
Journal:
Rev. bras. entomol
Journal subject:
Biology
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
/
Project document
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Estadual Paulista/BR
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