Abstract
The sting is the most effective defense of social Hymenoptera against vertebrate predators but in the hover wasps (subfamily Stenogastrinae) it is scarcely used. In these wasps a quite enlarged Dufour's gland and the extensive use of its secretion in the peculiar rearing of the larvae and defense determined important morphological modifications of the sting structure. Connecting anatomical and morphological data with behavioral observations we determined that in these wasps the Dufour's gland secretion is attached to the egg during oviposition but can be also channeled to the outside via the sting when it is collected by adult females for larval rearing or construction of the nest ant guards. The anatomical modifications of the sting reduced the function of the sting as a defensive weapon in hover wasps.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 259-264 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Arthropod Structure and Development |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Dufour's gland
- Stenogastrinae
- Sting apparatus
- Venom gland
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Insect Science
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Developmental Biology
Cite this
Dufour's gland possible role in the evolution of sting morphology and function in hover wasps (Hymenoptera Stenogastrinae). / Fortunato, Angelo; Turillazzi, Stefano.
In: Arthropod Structure and Development, Vol. 41, No. 3, 01.05.2012, p. 259-264.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Dufour's gland possible role in the evolution of sting morphology and function in hover wasps (Hymenoptera Stenogastrinae)
AU - Fortunato, Angelo
AU - Turillazzi, Stefano
PY - 2012/5/1
Y1 - 2012/5/1
N2 - The sting is the most effective defense of social Hymenoptera against vertebrate predators but in the hover wasps (subfamily Stenogastrinae) it is scarcely used. In these wasps a quite enlarged Dufour's gland and the extensive use of its secretion in the peculiar rearing of the larvae and defense determined important morphological modifications of the sting structure. Connecting anatomical and morphological data with behavioral observations we determined that in these wasps the Dufour's gland secretion is attached to the egg during oviposition but can be also channeled to the outside via the sting when it is collected by adult females for larval rearing or construction of the nest ant guards. The anatomical modifications of the sting reduced the function of the sting as a defensive weapon in hover wasps.
AB - The sting is the most effective defense of social Hymenoptera against vertebrate predators but in the hover wasps (subfamily Stenogastrinae) it is scarcely used. In these wasps a quite enlarged Dufour's gland and the extensive use of its secretion in the peculiar rearing of the larvae and defense determined important morphological modifications of the sting structure. Connecting anatomical and morphological data with behavioral observations we determined that in these wasps the Dufour's gland secretion is attached to the egg during oviposition but can be also channeled to the outside via the sting when it is collected by adult females for larval rearing or construction of the nest ant guards. The anatomical modifications of the sting reduced the function of the sting as a defensive weapon in hover wasps.
KW - Dufour's gland
KW - Stenogastrinae
KW - Sting apparatus
KW - Venom gland
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860576485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84860576485&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.asd.2012.02.007
DO - 10.1016/j.asd.2012.02.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 22401883
AN - SCOPUS:84860576485
VL - 41
SP - 259
EP - 264
JO - Arthropod Structure and Development
JF - Arthropod Structure and Development
SN - 1467-8039
IS - 3
ER -