Artigo
Morphohistological study of the venom gland in workers of the ant Pachycondyla striata F. Smith (Hymenoptera : Ponerinae)
Fecha
2003-01-01Registro en:
Sociobiology. Chico: Calif State Univ, v. 42, n. 1, p. 103-116, 2003.
0361-6525
WOS:000182275300007
2-s2.0-0038745492
Autor
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Resumen
Themorphology of the venom gland in workers of the ant Pachycondyla striata (F. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Ponerinae) consists of an elongated sac that is directly connected to the sting apparatus. Three distinct regions compose this gland: the external secretory portion, composed by a secretory filament that bifurcates to originate another two; the internal secretory portion, which is represented by the convoluted gland from which rises the excretory duct that liberates the venom; and the storage portion, consisting of a large sac-shaped reservoir. The histology showed that the gland possesses a strong musculature on its distal third. Underneath these muscle layers, we noted the presence of an epithelium that envelops the internal wall of the reservoir. The presence of a convoluted gland as well as secretion inside the reservoir was also noted.