Note on glands present in meliponinae (Hymenoptera, Apidae) bees legs

The present paper reports the presence of glandular structures in legs of some stingless bee species. The glands appear as: the epidermis transformation in a glandular epithelium as in basitarsus, an epithelial sac inside the segment as in the femur of queens or in the last tarsomere, as round gland...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Cruz-Landim, Carminda da [UNESP], Moraes, Regina Lúcia Morelli Silva de [UNESP], Salles, Heliana Clara [UNESP], Reginato, Rejane Daniele [UNESP]
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:1998
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/28324
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81751998000100014
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/28324
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Hymenoptera
stingless bees
legs
glands
Descripción
Sumario:The present paper reports the presence of glandular structures in legs of some stingless bee species. The glands appear as: the epidermis transformation in a glandular epithelium as in basitarsus, an epithelial sac inside the segment as in the femur of queens or in the last tarsomere, as round glandular cells, scattered or forming groupments. The saculiform gland of femur is present only in queens, the other glands are present in males, queens and workers of the studied species, apparently without any type of polymorphism. This occurrence seems indicate that the function of these glands have not to do with the sociality or specific behavior of castes.