Department of Entomology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, 36570-900, Viçosa, MG, Brazil.
Tissue Cell. 2021 Jun;70:101498. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101498. Epub 2021 Jan 22.
Brontocoris tabidus (Signoret) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is a zoophytophagous insect used for biological control in agriculture and forest systems because its nymphs and adults feed on insects and plants. The predatory Pentatomidae insert the mouthparts into the prey, releasing saliva to paralysis and kills the insect, as well as digest body parts to be sucked in a preliminary extra-oral digestion. In a short period of time, this insect shows the ability to feed again, suggesting the existence of a constant and abundant secretory cycle in the salivary glands. This study evaluated the morphological, histochemical and ultrastructural changes of the salivary glands of B. tabidus in fed and starved insects. The salivary complex of this predatory bug has a pair of bilobed salivary glands and a pair of tubular accessory salivary glands. The accessory glands have the lumen lined by a thick non-cuticular layer rich in glycoproteins. The secretory cells of the B. tabidus principal salivary glands have constant secretory activity, with each lobe producing different substances. The physiological processes that occur in the salivary gland of B. tabidus indicate that the insect needs to feed constantly, corroborating the potential of this insect to be used in biological control programs.
宽盾蝽（Brontocoris tabidus）（半翅目：蝽科）是一种杂食性昆虫，因其若虫和成虫以昆虫和植物为食，被用于农业和森林系统的生物防治。捕食性蝽科昆虫将口器插入猎物体内，释放唾液来麻痹和杀死昆虫，并消化身体部位以便在初步的口腔外消化中吸食。在短时间内，这种昆虫表现出再次进食的能力，表明其唾液腺中存在持续而丰富的分泌周期。本研究评估了取食和饥饿的宽盾蝽唾液腺的形态、组织化学和超微结构变化。这种捕食性昆虫的唾液复合体有一对双叶唾液腺和一对管状辅助唾液腺。辅助腺的管腔由富含糖蛋白的厚非角质层衬里。B. tabidus 主要唾液腺的分泌细胞具有恒定的分泌活性，每个叶产生不同的物质。B. tabidus 唾液腺中发生的生理过程表明，昆虫需要不断进食，这证实了这种昆虫在生物防治计划中的潜在用途。
