Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, Box 2466, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut d'Écologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement, 75005 Paris, France.
Arthropod Struct Dev. 2021 Mar;61:101041. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2021.101041. Epub 2021 Mar 2.
The basitarsus of the mid- and/or hindlegs of several Amblyoponinae ants shows a deep longitudinal groove or sulcus on its anterior face in workers and queens. Histological examination reveals this sulcus is associated with a conspicuous novel epithelial gland, which brings the number of exocrine glands in the legs of ants to 25. The ultrastructural characteristics of the gland show the presence of a well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum. This is indicative for the elaboration of a non-proteinaceous and thus possibly pheromonal secretion. Behavioural observations show that this secretion is collected by the tarsomeres and spread onto the brood and nest, suggesting a role in nestmate recognition. A similar basitarsal sulcus gland was also found in Nothomyrmecia, Paraponera and Tetraponera, which represents both a wide phylogenetic and ecological distribution, as it includes arboreal, ground-dwelling as well as subterranean taxa.
中后足的基跗节在工蚁和蚁后中前侧具有深的纵向凹槽或沟。组织学检查显示，该沟与一个明显的新型上皮腺相关联，这将蚂蚁腿部的外分泌腺数量增加到 25 个。该腺的超微结构特征显示出发达的光滑内质网的存在。这表明分泌的是非蛋白质性的、可能是信息素的分泌物。行为观察表明，这种分泌物被跗节收集并散布到幼虫和巢上，提示其在巢内识别中起作用。类似的基跗节沟腺也在 Nothomyrmecia、Paraponera 和 Tetraponera 中发现，这代表了广泛的系统发育和生态分布，因为它包括树栖、地面和地下的分类群。
