| Title: | "The basitarsal sulcus gland, a novel exocrine structure in ants" |
| Author(s): | Billen J; Khalife A; Ito F; Anh ND; Esteves FA; |
| Address: | "Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, Box 2466, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: johan.billen@kuleuven.be. Sorbonne Universite, CNRS, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement, 75005 Paris, France. Laboratory of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kagawa University, Ikenobe, Miki 761-0795, Japan. Systematic Zoology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan. California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr., San Francisco, CA 94941, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.asd.2021.101041 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-5495 (Electronic) 1467-8039 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The basitarsus of the mid- and/or hindlegs of several Amblyoponinae ants shows a deep longitudinal groove or sulcus on its anterior face in workers and queens. Histological examination reveals this sulcus is associated with a conspicuous novel epithelial gland, which brings the number of exocrine glands in the legs of ants to 25. The ultrastructural characteristics of the gland show the presence of a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum. This is indicative for the elaboration of a non-proteinaceous and thus possibly pheromonal secretion. Behavioural observations show that this secretion is collected by the tarsomeres and spread onto the brood and nest, suggesting a role in nestmate recognition. A similar basitarsal sulcus gland was also found in Nothomyrmecia, Paraponera and Tetraponera, which represents both a wide phylogenetic and ecological distribution, as it includes arboreal, ground-dwelling as well as subterranean taxa" |
| Keywords: | "Animals *Ants/classification/ultrastructure Exocrine Glands/ultrastructure Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Phylogeny Basitarsus Exocrine glands Histology Morphology Ultrastructure;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBillen, Johan Khalife, Adam Ito, Fuminori Anh, Nguyen Duc Esteves, Flavia A eng England 2021/03/06 Arthropod Struct Dev. 2021 Mar; 61:101041. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2021.101041. Epub 2021 Mar 2" |
