Functional morphology of the mandibular gland of queens of the ant <i><scp>M</scp>onomorium pharaonis</i> (<scp>L</scp>.)

Boonen, Sofie; Eelen, Dieter; Børgesen, L. W.; Billen, Johan

doi:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2012.00564.x

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Like in most Hymenoptera (e.g. [ 74 , 100 , 101 , 124 – 126 ]), the MGs of male Philanthini are exclusively associated with typical NQ-class 3 cells, either in single units or arranged in acini. As in P. triangulum [ 50 – 52 ], the male MG of other Philanthini is presumably also involved in the production of the marking pheromone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual selection and the evolution of male pheromone glands in philanthine wasps (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)

2017

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BackgroundSexual selection is thought to promote evolutionary changes and diversification. However, the impact of sexual selection in relation to other selective forces is difficult to evaluate. Male digger wasps of the tribe Philanthini (Hymenoptera, Philanthinae) scent mark territories to attract receptive females. Consequently, the organs for production and storage of the marking secretion, the mandibular gland (MG) and the postpharyngeal gland (PPG), are subject to sexual selection. In female Philanthini, these glands are most likely solely subject to natural selection and show very little morphological diversity. According to the hypothesis that sexual selection drives interspecific diversity, we predicted that the MG and PPG show higher interspecific variation in males than in females. Using histological methods, 3D-reconstructions, and multivariate statistical analysis of morphological characters, we conducted a comparative analysis of the MG and the PPG in males of 30 species of Philanthini and three species of the Cercerini and Aphilanthopsini, two related tribes within the Philanthinae.ResultsWe found substantial interspecific diversity in gland morphology with regard to gland incidence, size, shape and the type of associated secretory cells. Overall there was a phylogenetic trend: Ensuing from the large MGs and small PPGs of male Cercerini and Aphilanthopsini, the size and complexity of the MG was reduced in male Philanthini, while their PPG became considerably enlarged, substantially more complex, and associated with an apparently novel type of secretory cells. In some clades of the Philanthini the MG was even lost and entirely replaced by the PPG. However, several species showed reversals of and exceptions from this trend. Head gland morphology was significantly more diverse among male than among female Philanthinae.ConclusionOur results show considerable variation in male head glands including the loss of an entire gland system and the evolution of a novel kind of secretory cells, confirming the prediction that interspecific diversity in head gland morphology is higher in male than in female Philanthini. We discuss possible causes for the remarkable evolutionary changes in males and we conclude that this high diversity has been caused by sexual selection.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0963-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual selection and the evolution of male pheromone glands in philanthine wasps (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)

2017

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“…At the ultrastructural level, the organization of the secretory cells is similar to that of the mandibular gland in the majority of other social insects, with a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, that is indicative for the elaboration of a nonproteinaceous secretion (Boonen et al, 2013;Noirot and Quennedey, 1974). The secretory products are drained from the secretory cells into the duct cells through the end apparatus.…”

Section: Dinoponera Australis)mentioning

confidence: 80%

“…microvilli that surround the central cuticular canal, of which the loosely arranged form has been interpreted as a temporary storage space at the cellular level (Billen and Morgan, 1998;Boonen et al, 2013;Billen and Schoeters, 1994). Whereas the duct Mandibular gland structure in Brachyponera sennaarensis…”

Section: Dinoponera Australis)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and ultrastructure of the mandibular gland in the ant Brachyponera sennaarensis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Billen

Al‐Khalifa

2018

Micron

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The 'samsum ant' Brachyponera sennaarensis is an invasive species in Saudi Arabia, where it forms a serious threat because of its painful sting. As part of a morphological survey of the exocrine system of this species, we studied the mandibular gland of males, queens and workers of this species. The gland of males is similar to the common anatomical appearance the mandibular gland has in ants in general, but is considerably different in queens and workers. In both female castes, the secretory cells are grouped in one single cluster, that is surrounded by a thick sheath of connective tissue. The duct cells, that transport the secretion towards the wrinkled reservoir, appear considerably folded. Both the sheath of connective tissue and the folded ducts are considered as a mechanical reinforcement of the gland, although the reason for such reinforcement remains unclear as we are not aware of any peculiar movements of the mandibles in queens and workers. At the ultrastructural level, the secretory cells in all castes are characterized by a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which is indicative for the elaboration of a non-proteinaceous and hence possibly pheromonal secretion. The clear structural differences between males and the two female castes, which so far had not been found in other ant species, show that the mandibular gland in B. sennaarensis most likely has a different caste-dependent function.

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“…The morphology of the mandibular gland of P. clavata is similar to that of another species, the Ponerinae Dinoponera grandis (Perty), as to the location and shape of the reservoir (Hermann et al, ). However, the clustered arrangement of globular glandular cells of P. clavata differs from the ovoid cell clusters of the Formicinae Polyergus rufescens (Latreille) (Grasso et al, ) and species of Calomyrmex (Emery) (Brough, ); the Myrmicinae Atta sexdens (Forel) (Amaral & Machado‐Santelli, ) and Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus) (Boonen, Eelen, Børgesen, & Billen, ); and the Ponerinae Dinoponera gigantea (Perty) (Caetano et al, ), Pachycondyla striata (Smith) (Serrão et al, ), and Brachyponera sennaarensis (Mayr) (Billen & Al‐Khalifa, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The secretory products are drained from the secretory cells into the duct cells through the end apparatus. This can either appear with tightly packed or loosely arranged microvilli that surround the central cuticular canal, of which the loosely arranged form has been interpreted as a temporary storage space at the cellular level (Billen & Schoeters, ; Billen, Ito, Maile, & Morgan, 1998, Boonen et al, ). Whereas the duct cells of mandibular glands in other species usually are mainly straight, they appear remarkably folded in queens and workers of Brachyponera sennaarensis (Billen & Al‐Khalifa, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology of the mandibular gland of the ant Paraponera clavata (Hymenoptera: Paraponerinae)

Andrade

Gonçalves

Serrão

et al. 2019

Microscopy Res & Technique

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The ant Paraponera clavata (Fabricius, 1775) is the only extant species of Paraponerinae and is widely distributed in Brazilian forests. Aspects of its biology are documented extensively in the literature; however, knowledge of P. clavata internal morphology, specifically of exocrine glands, is restricted to the venom apparatus. The objective of this study was to describe the mandibular gland morphology of P. clavata workers. The mandibular gland is composed of a reservoir connected to a cluster of Type III secretory cells with cytoplasm rich in mitochondria and lipid droplets, similar to that of other ants. Notably, the glandular secretion is rich in protein and has a solid aspect. This is the first morphological description of the mandibular gland of P. clavata. Research Highlights This study presents the morphological description of the mandibular gland of Paraponera clavata (Hymenoptera: Paraponerinae). Singular characteristics of the gland are described: the glandular secretion is rich in protein and has a solid aspect.

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Functional morphology of the mandibular gland of queens of the ant Monomorium pharaonis (L.)

Cited by 10 publications

References 31 publications

Sexual selection and the evolution of male pheromone glands in philanthine wasps (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)

Sexual selection and the evolution of male pheromone glands in philanthine wasps (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae)

Morphology and ultrastructure of the mandibular gland in the ant Brachyponera sennaarensis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Morphology of the mandibular gland of the ant Paraponera clavata (Hymenoptera: Paraponerinae)

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