Comparative analysis of morphological, structural and morphometric patterns of Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) hypopharyngeal glands

Abstract

Análise Comparada do Padrão Morfológico, Estrutural e Morfométrico das Glândulas Hipofaríngeasde Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)RESUMO -O presente estudo descreve, por meio de técnicas de histologia e ultramorfologia, os padrões morfológico e estrutural das glândulas hipofaríngeas de Polistes versicolor (Olivier), comparando-os aos de outros grupos de Hymenoptera. Além disso, analisa a presença de variações intraespecíficas dessas glândulas por meio de análises morfométricas das células secretoras de vespas em diferentes idades. Na espécie estudada foi constatada a presença de glândulas com características primitivas, possuindo células secretoras que desembocam individualmente na placa hipofaríngea. O padrão morfológico encontrado nas glândulas hipofaríngeas foi basicamente o mesmo para todas as vespas estudadas, entretanto o comprimento das células glandulares apresentou variações significativas entre indivíduos. Aparentemente essas variações não estão relacionadas com a idade.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Vespa, sistema salivar, evolução, morfologia, morfometria ABSTRACT -Using ultramorphological and histochemical techniques, this study describes the structural and morphological patterns of Polistes versicolor (Olivier) hypopharyngeal glands, comparing them with patterns of other Hymenopteran groups. Besides, the presence of intra-specific variation was evidenced by morphometric analysis of the secretory cells in wasps with different ages. The studied species presented glands with primitive characteristics, with secretory cells discharging individually in the hypopharyngeal plate. The morphological pattern found in hypopharyngeal glands was basically the same for all studied wasps, however, the length of glandular cells showed significant variations between individuals. Apparently these variations are not related with age.KEY WORDS: Wasp, salivary system, evolution, morphology, morphometryThe Hymenoptera possess a series of glands connected to the bucal cavity, which together constitute the salivary system, formed by the thoracic salivary glands, the mandible and the hypopharyngeal glands (Bordas 1895). Some of these glands show as simple epidermic modified cells, whereas others present more complex morphology (Cruz-Landim 1967). The hypopharyngeal glands may present morphological patterns that vary from differentiated epidermic cells to well defined organs (Cruz-Landim & Costa 1998).Most of the studies on hypopharyngeal glands were carried out with Apis (Cruz-Landim 1967, Crailsheim & Stolberg 1989, Knecht & Kaatz 1990) and some meliponine (Cruz-Landim 1967, Cruz-Landim et al. 1987, whose gland morphology and performance are very well studied. In these insects, the hypopharyngeal glands are more developed in the workers caste, mainly while they are taking care of the brood. During this phase, they are named nurses and they offer the gland secretion as food to all individuals (Szoldertz & Crailsheim 1993). After the nurse phase, the workers begin to forage and their hypopharyngeal glands stop producing...

Hypopharyngeal Gland Activity in Task-Specific Workers Under Brood and Broodless Conditions in Apis Cerana Indica (Fab.)

“…Interestingly, morphometric studies on the hymenopteran wasp, Polistes versicolor, have shown no relationship between age and HPG development. In contrast, members of the same age groups are capable of performing different activities (Britto et al, 2004). However, among those wasps, in the reverted foragers, the HPG could redevelop and resynthesize brood food in colonies that lacked nurse bees (Huang and Robinson, 1996).…”

Description of the Intramandibular Gland II in Polybia emaciata Lucas (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

“…The low number of cells might be a consequence of the age stage at which wasps were captured. Task partitioning is well known in vespids (Jeanne, 1991), and several studies demonstrate a relationship between gland size and task frequency (Downing, 1991;García & Noll, 2013); however, studies have also debated this correlation (Britto et al, 2004). We collected foragers of P. emaciata, and therefore, the gland was possibly not active in individuals at this stage.…”

“…Gland description included the following: location, cell type according to the classification provided by Noirot and Quennedey (1974), maximum dorsoventral or anteroposterior extension, and cell diameter (Britto et al, 2004;Billen, 2009;Penagos-Arévalo et al, 2015).…”

Ultrastructural features of the hypopharyngeal glands in the social wasp Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

“…The hypopharyngeal glands are structures only present in Hymenoptera. However, their morphological characteristics vary among species (Cruz-Landim & Costa, 1998;Gama, 1985;Caetano et al, 2002;Britto et al, 2004;Amaral & Caetano, 2005). Studied in depth in social bees, these glands produce royal jelly, which is used to feed the brood.…”

“…Previous studies on the hypopharyngeal glands of Polistes versicolor have shown that these glands have no anatomical variation among castes and occur in both sexes. In this species, glands are constituted by two groups of secretory cells that are individually connected by canaliculi to the hypopharyngeal plate (Britto et al, 2004). Cruz-Landim and Costa (1998) observed that these characteristics are common among non-social species.…”