The exocrine glands of swarming females and physogastric queens of Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar) (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae)

Ignatti, Ana Cristina; Costa–Leonardo, Ana Maria

doi:10.1590/s0101-81752001000400007

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Observations of the courtship behavior of C. cumulans showed that the male points its antennae in the last tergites of the female during the tandem process. These tergites are the location of the tegumental glands described in this study and of the tergal glands that have been previously described in the female reproductives of this termite (Ignatti and Costa‐Leonardo, 2001). Our hypothesis is that tegumental glands in the female imagoes of C. cumulans may be related to sexual behavior, acting synergistically with thetergal glands to regulate short‐range attraction during tandem behavior.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

MRT letter: A novel tegumental gland in female imagoes of the neotropical termite Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, termitidae, syntermitinae)

Costa–Leonardo

Haifig

2010

Microscopy Res & Technique

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In general, the exocrine glands of social insects are structures involved in the chemical communication associated with social life. Here, we report the discovery of an unknown tegumental gland that is present in the female imagoes of Cornitermes cumulans and occurs next to the well-developed tergal glands that have previously been described. The tegumental glands release their secretion in the intersegmental membrane and are composed of bicellular units, a secretory cell and a canal cell, that are closely located to the epidermal cells in the inferior part of the eighth and ninth tergites. The ultrastructure of the glandular cells showed abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that the secretion may be pheromonal, although its function is still unknown. These exocrine structures are facing the tergal glands, and we hypothesized that they act synergistically with the tergal glands to generate short-range attraction during tandem behavior.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

MRT letter: A novel tegumental gland in female imagoes of the neotropical termite Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, termitidae, syntermitinae)

Costa–Leonardo

Haifig

2010

Microscopy Res & Technique

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“…A peculiar exception is observed among reproductives of Neocapritermes opacus (Hagen), in which the glands are absent (Campos, 2002). Tergal glands are undeveloped in functional reproductives, including physogastric queens (Ignatti & Costa-Leonardo, 2001).…”

Section: Tergal Glandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the other termite families, a single gland is observed (Figures 10A‐C), located in the anterior part of the fourth sternite in Archotermopsidae, Stolotermitidae, and Hodotermitidae, and in the fifth sternite in the Kalotermitidae, Serritermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae (Noirot, 1969). The sternal gland is non‐functional in larval instars and degenerated in functional queens, including physogastric ones (Grassé, 1982; Ignatti & Costa‐Leonardo, 2001).…”

Section: Tegumentary Glands With Epithelial Arrangementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Termite exocrine systems: a review of current knowledge

Costa–Leonardo

Silva

Laranjo

2023

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Termite (Isoptera) social life comprises a coordinated and complex system, in which several activities are played by different castes such as mating, brood care, foraging, kinship recognition, social immunity, and nest defense. Such activities require specialized communication mediated mainly by semiochemicals, including pheromones (Costa-Leonardo & Haifig, 2014;Bagnères & Hanus, 2015). Such communication relies on the secretory activity of a wide set of exocrine glands located in different body parts, which may often be associated with the production of specific compounds for equally specific activities (Costa-Leonardo & Haifig, 2010a). On the other hand, the secretion of the same compounds might be observed among different glands, species, or even used for distinct activities, suggesting a parsimony and functional plasticity in chemical communication in termites (Robert et al., 2004;Costa-Leonardo et al., 2009a).Many termite exocrine glands produce pheromones, which are associated with chemical communication, whereas others produce defensive and antiseptic compounds (Rosengaus et al., 2004;Šobotník et al., 2010a). Such a defensive function is particularly well reported for the soldier caste and alate reproductives during swarming flights, occasions in which these individuals are vulnerable to massive predation (Lepage, 1991). Beyond their crucial role in nestmate interactions, exocrine glands in termites are involved in other physiological processes, including the production of digestive enzymes, synthesis of contents

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Tergal glands in termite soldiers of the subfamily Syntermitinae (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Costa–Leonardo

Haifig

Laranjo

2012

Micron

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The exocrine glands of swarming females and physogastric queens of Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar) (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae)

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

MRT letter: A novel tegumental gland in female imagoes of the neotropical termite Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, termitidae, syntermitinae)

MRT letter: A novel tegumental gland in female imagoes of the neotropical termite Cornitermes cumulans (Isoptera, termitidae, syntermitinae)

Termite exocrine systems: a review of current knowledge

Tergal glands in termite soldiers of the subfamily Syntermitinae (Isoptera: Termitidae)

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