Ontogeny of the fine structure of the mandibular glands of the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) workers and the pheromonal activity of 2-heptanone

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a single-stranded RNA virus of honey bees ( Apis mellifera L.) transmitted by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Although DWV represents a major threat to honey bee health worldwide, the pathological basis of DWV infection is not well documented. The objective of this study was to investigate clinicopathological and histological aspects of natural DWV infection in honey bee workers. Emergence of worker honey bees was observed in 5 colonies that were clinically affected with DWV and the newly emerged bees were collected for histopathology. DWV-affected bees were 2 times slower to emerge and had 30% higher mortality compared to clinically normal bees. Hypopharyngeal glands in bees with DWV were hypoplastic, with fewer intracytoplasmic secretory vesicles; cells affected by apoptosis were observed more frequently. Mandibular glands were hypoplastic and were lined by cuboidal epithelium in severely affected bees compared to tall columnar epithelium in nonaffected bees. The DWV load was on average 1.7 × 106 times higher ( P < .001) in the severely affected workers compared to aged-matched sister honey bee workers that were not affected by deformed wing disease based on gross examination. Thus, DWV infection is associated with prolonged emergence, increased mortality during emergence, and hypoplasia of hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands in newly emerged worker honey bees in addition to previously reported deformed wing abnormalities.

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The fine structure of the tarsal glands of the honeybee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera)

Cell and Tissue Research ◽

10.1007/bf00217569 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 240 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Y. Lensky ◽

P. Cassier ◽

A. Finkel ◽

C. Delorme-Joulie ◽

M. Levinsohn

Keyword(s):

Fine Structure ◽

Apis Mellifera ◽

Tarsal Glands

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Fine structure of the sense organs on the antennal flagellum of the honey bee,Apis mellifera linnaeus

Journal of Morphology ◽

10.1002/jmor.1051090308 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 109 (3) ◽

pp. 351-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 81

Author(s):

Eleanor H. Slifer ◽

Sant S. Sekhon

Keyword(s):

Fine Structure ◽

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Sense Organs ◽

Antennal Flagellum

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Effect of the juvenile hormone on the development of the mandibular gland in workers' pupae of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842004000400018 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 64 (3b) ◽

pp. 691-695 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

H. C. Salles ◽

C. Cruz-Landim

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Juvenile Hormone ◽

Developmental Stage ◽

Mandibular Gland ◽

Mandibular Glands ◽

Chemical Substances ◽

Exogenous Application ◽

Developmental Program

Insect mandibular glands are exocrine organs that produce chemical substances known as pheromones that play an important role in intra-specific communication of insects. The mandibular glands of Apis mellifera, which are more highly developed in queens than in workers, present caste-specific polymorphism which seems to be regulated by the juvenile hormone (JH). These glands develop at the pupation stage, during which the titer of JH is higher in queens. In spite of this observation, application recounted here of juvenile hormone on 5th-instar workers' larvae of Apis mellifera did not produce a significant effect on the size of the mandibular glands. Therefore, we may conclude that the response of insect organs to the exogenous application of JH varies according to the type of organ, its developmental program, and its developmental stage, as well as to the amount of hormone applied.

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