ASIAN
MYRMECOLOGY

Asian Myrmecology, Volume 8, pages 95-99, published December 2016
DOI: 10.20362/am.008009
article first published online: 06/May/2016

The intramandibular gland of Aneuretus simoni (Formicidae, Aneuretinae)

JOHAN BILLEN* & SEBASTIAAN VERBESSELT

Abstract:

Aneuretus simoni workers have a conspicuous intramandibular gland, formed by round to polygonal class-3 secretory cells with a diameter around 16-17 μm and their accompanying duct cells. Both in minor and major workers, approx. 8 cells open through the proximal upper surface of the mandible, approx. 12 cells open through the proximal lower surface. The secretory cells are characterized by a well-developed granular endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. The cytoplasmic organization indicates the secretion has a proteinaceous nature, and therefore probably does not play a pheromonal role. The precise function, however, is not yet known.

Keywords:

Aneuretus simoni, Aneuretinae, intramandibular gland, morphology, ultrastructure

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Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium

*Corresponding author: johan.billen@bio.kuleuven.be