| Title: | Exocrine glands in the legs of the social wasp Vespula vulgaris |
| Address: | "Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 2466, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 2466, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Johan.Billen@bio.kuleuven.be" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.asd.2015.08.011 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-5495 (Electronic) 1467-8039 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "This study brings a survey of the exocrine glands in the legs of Vespula vulgaris wasps. We studied workers, males, virgin queens as well as mated queens. A variety of 17 glands is found in the different leg segments. Among these, five glands are novel exocrine structures for social insects (trochanter-femur gland, ventrodistal tibial gland, distal tibial sac gland, ventral tibial gland, and ventral tarsomere gland). Most leg glands are present in the three leg pairs of all castes. This may indicate a mechanical function. This is likely for the numerous glands that occur near the articulation between the various leg segments, where lubricant production may be expected. Other possible functions include antenna cleaning, acting as a hydraulic system, or pheromonal. Further research including leg-related behavioural observations and chemical analyses may help to clarify the functions of these glandular structures in the legs" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Exocrine Glands/anatomy & histology/ultrastructure Extremities/anatomy & histology Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Wasps/*anatomy & histology/ultrastructure Exocrine glands Legs Morphology Social wasps;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineNijs, Catherine Billen, Johan eng England 2015/09/13 Arthropod Struct Dev. 2015 Sep; 44(5):433-43. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2015.08.011. Epub 2015 Sep 8" |
