scholarly journals Structure and development of the metapleural gland in Technomyrmex vitiensis

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-392
Author(s):  
P. Pech ◽  
J. Billen
Keyword(s):  
Metapleural Gland

scholarly journals Comparison of Twelve Ant Species and Their Susceptibility to Fungal Infection

Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Bos ◽  
Viljami Kankaanpää-Kukkonen ◽  
Dalial Freitak ◽  
Dimitri Stucki ◽  
Liselotte Sundström
Keyword(s):  
Entomopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Behavioral Response ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Eusocial Insects ◽  
Fungal Exposure ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Study Species ◽  
Colony Level

Eusocial insects, such as ants, have access to complex disease defenses both at the individual, and at the colony level. However, different species may be exposed to different diseases, and/or deploy different methods of coping with disease. Here, we studied and compared survival after fungal exposure in 12 species of ants, all of which inhabit similar habitats. We exposed the ants to two entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum), and measured how exposure to these fungi influenced survival. We furthermore recorded hygienic behaviors, such as autogrooming, allogrooming and trophallaxis, during the days after exposure. We found strong differences in autogrooming behavior between the species, but none of the study species performed extensive allogrooming or trophallaxis under the experimental conditions. Furthermore, we discuss the possible importance of the metapleural gland, and how the secondary loss of this gland in the genus Camponotus could favor a stronger behavioral response against pathogen threats.

Ultrastructural profile of metapleural gland cells of the ant Atta laevigata (F. Smith, 1858) (Formicidae: Attini)

2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias ◽  
Odair Correa Bueno ◽  
Alexsandro Santana Vieira
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Squamous Epithelium ◽  
Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Atta Laevigata ◽  
Gland Cells ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Secretion Granules ◽  
Myelin Figures

AbstractThe metapleural gland is considered a synapomorphy of ants, and is characterized as a paired structure located at the two postlateral ends of the thorax and secretes substances capable of inhibiting and controlling fungi and bacteria in the fungus garden and inside the nest. This study was aimed at investigating if and which are the ultrastructural differences in the metapleural gland cells of workers (three castes) of Atta laevigata using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study revealed the presence of Golgi regions, rough endoplasmic reticulum (lamellar and vesicular shapes), smooth endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria (elongated, round-shaped), vacuoles, secretion granules with different electron densities, and myelin figures in the cytoplasm of secretory cells, indicating that this gland produces substances composed of proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides (glycogen in major workers). Lipid droplets and secretion granules were found very near to the microvilli, especially in minor workers. The intracellular portion of canaliculi exhibited invaginations that increased the surface area and modified the secretion produced by the secretory cells. In the three castes examined, the gland exhibited a reservoir preceded by a collecting chamber, both lined by a simple squamous epithelium with a cuticular intima. Workers of the three castes of A. laevigata might be involved in the production of secretion mainly composed of proteins with antibiotic properties and, minor workers, may be responsible for producing a wider variety of secretions compared to median and major workers in the colony.

scholarly journals Ants contribute to pollination but not to reproduction in a rare calcareous grassland forb

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Rostás ◽  
Felix Bollmann ◽  
David Saville ◽  
Michael Riedel
Keyword(s):  
Germination Rate ◽  
Calcareous Grassland ◽  
Individual Plant ◽  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Antibiotic Effect ◽  
Tapinoma Erraticum ◽  
Nectar Robbers

The number of plants pollinated by ants is surprisingly low given the abundance of ants and the fact that they are common visitors of angiosperms. Generally ants are considered as nectar robbers that do not provide pollination service. We studied the pollination system of the endangered dry grassland forb Euphorbia seguieriana and found two ant species to be the most frequent visitors of its flowers. Workers of Formica cunicularia carried five times more pollen than smaller Tapinoma erraticum individuals, but significantly more viable pollen was recovered from the latter. Overall, the viability of pollen on ant cuticles was significantly lower (p < 0.001)—presumably an antibiotic effect of the metapleural gland secretion. A marking experiment suggested that ants were unlikely to facilitate outcrossing as workers repeatedly returned to the same individual plant. In open pollinated plants and when access was given exclusively to flying insects, fruit set was nearly 100%. In plants visited by ants only, roughly one third of flowers set fruit, and almost none set fruit when all insects were excluded. The germination rate of seeds from flowers pollinated by flying insects was 31 ± 7% in contrast to 1 ± 1% resulting from ant pollination. We conclude that inbreeding depression may be responsible for the very low germination rate in ant pollinated flowers and that ants, although the most frequent visitors, play a negligible or even deleterious role in the reproduction of E. seguieriana. Our study reiterates the need to investigate plant fitness effects beyond seed set in order to confirm ant-plant mutualisms.

Parvimyrma gen. nov. belonging to the Solenopsis genus group from Vietnam (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini)

Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1461 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
KATSUYUKI EGUCHI ◽  
TUAN VIET BUI
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Frontal Lobes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Weakly Convex ◽  
Metapleural Gland

The myrmicine ant genus Parvimyrma is newly established for a single new species found from N. Vietnam. The genus is undoubtedly placed in the Solenopsis genus group, and it is distinguished from the other genera belonging to the genus group by a combination of the following features: posteromedian portion of clypeus narrowly inserted between frontal lobes; masticatory margin of mandible with 5 distinct teeth; antenna 11-segmented, with a 2-segmented club; eye completely absent; promesonotum in profile almost flat or very weakly convex dorsally; metanotal groove relatively shallowly impressed dorsally; propodeum unarmed; propodeal spiracle small, situated a little behind the midlength of the sides of propodeum; metapleural gland large; petiolar peduncle with a small anteroventral process; postpetiole narrowly attached to the anteriormost end of gaster; sting poorly developed.

Chemistry of metapleural gland secretions of three attine ants,Atta sexdens rubropilosa, Atta cephalotes, andAcromyrmex octospinosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

1996 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 987-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth R. Do Nascimento ◽  
Eric Schoeters ◽  
E. David Morgan ◽  
Johan Billen ◽  
David J. Stradling
Keyword(s):  
Atta Cephalotes ◽  
Atta Sexdens ◽  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Atta Sexdens Rubropilosa ◽  
Attine Ants

Secretory profile of metapleural gland cells of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex coronatus (Formicidae: Attini)

2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexsandro Santana Vieira ◽  
Odair Correa Bueno ◽  
Maria Izabel Camargo-Mathias
Keyword(s):  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Gland Cells ◽  
Leaf Cutting

scholarly journals Ultramorphology of the metapleural gland in three species of Atta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

2001 ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana G. de Gusmão ◽  
Flávio Henrique Caetano ◽  
Octavio Nakano
Keyword(s):  
Metapleural Gland

scholarly journals The Metapleural Secretion of Acromyrmex laticeps (Forel) does not have Fungicide Effect on the Entomopathogenic Fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-210
Author(s):  
Luciane Kern Junqueira ◽  
Elena Diehl
Keyword(s):  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Entomopathogenic Fungus ◽  
Metapleural Gland ◽  
Fungicidal Effect ◽  
Superior Portion ◽  
Fungus Beauveria Bassiana

The metapleural gland (MPG) is an exocrine structure, exclusive to formicids, being more developed in females and workers. This structure is stunted or nonexistent in males. Several possible functions for the secretion produced by this gland have been suggested, but a protection against entomopathogens is the most accepted hypothesis. To test this, we applied a suspension of spores (1.30 x 106) of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. on the MPG and the antero-superior portion of the metathorax (ASM) of winged females of Acromyrmex laticeps (Forel). We only applied the suspension in the ASM of males, since they do not have the atrium characteristic in the MPG. Our results indicated that the metapleural secretion of females has no fungicidal effect on B. bassiana, and therefore both males and winged females are sensitive to this entomopathogenic fungus. Ausência de Efeito Fungicida da Secreção Metapleural de Acromyrmex laticeps (Forel) Contra Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. Resumo. A glândula metapleural (GMP) é uma estrutura exógena, encontrada apenas nos formicídeos, sendo mais desenvolvida nas fêmeas e operárias, enquanto nos machos ou está atrofiada ou não existe. Tem sido sugerido várias possíveis funções para a secreção produzida por esta glândula, sendo a hipótese de efeito protetor contra entomopatógenos a mais estudada. Para testar esta hipótese, foi aplicada uma suspensão de conídios (1,30 x 106) de Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. nas GMP e na porção ântero-superior do metatórax (ASM) de fêmeas aladas de Acromyrmex laticeps (Forel), enquanto nos machos a suspensão foi aplicada apenas na porção ASM, pois estes não apresentam o átrio característico da GMP. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a secreção metapleural das fêmeas desta espécie não possui efeito fungicida sobre B. bassiana, e que tanto os machos como as fêmeas alados são sensíveis a este fungo entomopatogênico.

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