David C. Post and Robert L. Jeanne.
Morphology of the Sternal Glands of Polistes fuscatus and P. canadensis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).
Psyche 87(1-2):49-58, 1980.

This article at Hindawi Publishing: https://doi.org/10.1155/1980/18194
CEC's scan of this article: http://psyche.entclub.org/pdf/87/87-049.pdf, 3816K
This landing page: http://psyche.entclub.org/87/87-049.html

The following unprocessed text is extracted automatically from the PDF file, and is likely to be both incomplete and full of errors. Please consult the PDF file for the complete article.

MORPHOLOGY OF THE STERNAL GLANDS OF
POLISTES FUSCA TUS AND P. CANADENSIS
(HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)*
BY DAVID C. POST AND ROBERT L. JEANNE
Department of Entomology
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Although 13 exocrine glands have been located in wasps of the genus Polistes, and 12 in Mischocyttarus (Landolt and Akre, 1979), their morphology and functions have been little studied. Recently, however, the sternal gland on the sixth gastral (terminal) segment of females of these wasps has attracted attention because its secretion is repugnant to some species of ants. Female wasps rub the secretion onto the nest petiole, thus forming a chemical barrier against predatory ants (Jeanne, 1970; Hermann and Dirks, 1974; Turillazzi and Ugolini, 1978, 1979; Post, 1980).
Close to the anterior margin of the sternite is a hyaline area covered with a tuft of long hairs ('sternal brush') (van der Vecht, 1968). In Polistes a cluster of gland cells underlies the cuticle on each side of the sternal brush (Landolt and Akre, 1979; Turillazzi, 1979). Ducts lead from the gland cells to the cuticular surface within the sternal brush. A smaller number of gland cells also occurs in a band along the anterior margin of the fifth gastral sternite (Hermann and Dirks, 1974; Turillazzi, 1979).
We undertook the present study to determine the presence of these glands in Polistes fuscatus (F.), a temperate zone species, and in P. canadensis (L.), a tropical species, and to compare the size and morphology of the glands in these species with those in congeners previously investigated by Hermann and Dirks (1974) and Turillazzi (1979)
Adult female foundresses and workers of P. fuscatus (F.) were collected in Madison, Wisconsin, on 13 June, 2 and 21 July, and 9 September, 1978. Adult P. canadensis canadensis (L.) were collected *Manuscript received by the editor July 3, 1980. Pacht Ìö7:49-5 ( 1980). hup Ylpsfchv ralclub org/87/87&l9 html



================================================================================




================================================================================

19801
Post & Jeanne - Sternal Glands of Polistes 5 1



================================================================================

52 Psyche [vo~. 87
empty through the cuticle between the hairs (Fig. 5). A few ducts do not run to the brush, but empty through the cuticle lying directly over the gland cells (Fig. 4). In both species each mass of gland cells is enclosed by a thin basement membrane or lamella (Fig. 6). The gland is larger in P. canadensis than in P. fuscatus (Figs. 7 & 8). Each cluster of cells contains approximately 1676 cells (2 specimens) (56- 105 cells per section; 4 specimens) in P. canadensis and 597 cells (3 specimens) (18-38 cells per section; 6 specimens) in P. fuscatus. The epithelium underlying the class 3 cells is thickened by the elongation of the epidermal cells, suggesting that these are secretory cells (class 1 cells of Noirot and Quennedey, 1974) (Figs. 4, 7, 8). This epithelium is thicker in P. canadensis (Z= 34.0 p; 3 specimens) than in P. fuscatus (% 15.5 p, 6 specimens). Epidermal cells not underlying the class 3 cells, including those in the hyaline area, are flattened and irregular in appearance (unmodified) in both P. canadensis (x= 6.4 u: 3 specimens) and P. fuscatus (i = 5.8 p; 6 specimens). 5th Stemite.
The anterior margin of the fifth gastral sternite of both species bears a narrow band of class 3 gland cells, although a brush is lacking. Histological sections revealed fewer gland cells in P. canadensis (4-8 cells per section; 4 specimens) than in P. fuscatus (10-15 cells per section; 6 specimens) (Figs. 9 & 10). The gland cells are enclosed by a basement lamella.
As on the sixth sternite, the epithelium lying under the class 3 cells is thickened, and is thicker in P. canadensis (x= 39.1 p; 3 specimens) than in P. fuscatus (i = 7.8 p; 3 specimens) (Figs. 9 & 10). There were no detectable individual differences in gland morpho- logy or development in either species.
Our most important new finding is that the epidermal cells associated with the class 3 gland cells on both sternites are modified into what appear to be class 1 gland cells in both species. The reason Hermann and Dirks (1974) did not observe this in P. annularis (L.) may be attributed to their use of late pupae instead of adults. These cells may not become elongated until active. A second point on which P. fuscatus and P. canadensis apparently differ from what Hermann and Dirks (1974) report for P. annularis is that the class 3 cells of sternite 6 clearly form two clusters that lie to



================================================================================

19801 Post & Jeanne - Sternal Glands of Polistes 53 Figure 4.
Longitudinal section (2p thick) through the glandular area of the sixth gastral sternite of P. canadensis. GGglandular cells; E=epidermis; CI>=glandular cell ducts. Figure 5.
SEM photograph of the glandular ceil duct openings (indicated by arrows) at the base of the siernal brush hairs of P.fusratus. Anterior is to the upper right. Scale = 0.05 mm.
Figure 6. Transverse section (2p thick) through the glandular area of the sixth gastral sternite of P. fuscatus. Midiinc is to the left. GC=glandular cells; AT=adipose tissue; CD=glandular cell ducts; BL-basement lnmall~




================================================================================

54 Psyche
Figurt 7. Longitudinal section (2 # thick) through the glandular area of die sixth gastral ste& of P. fuswm. Anterior is to the right. GC-gland* cells, E=cpidermiq IM=intereegmcntal membrane; APadipoge tissue. Figure 8. Lon@- tudinal section (2 p thick) through the glandular area of the sixth gastral sternite of P. canadwwis. Anterior is to the right. GC=glandular cells; E=epidemis; IM=intcrscg- mental membrane; APadipose tissue.
the sides of the hyaline area and brush. Hermann and Dirks state that gland cells "extend beneath most of the integumental surface upon which the sternal brush is foundw (p. 6). although their figures do not document this statement TuriUazzi (1979) showed clearly that in P. galIicus (L.) and P. foederatus (Kohl) the class 3 gland cells of sternite 6 form two lateral clusters.
Hermann and Dirks f 1974) found that the class 3 cells in P. mnularis pupae were close packed and polygonal. Landolt and Akrc (1979) argued that this is the undeveloped condition, and that the cells of active adult glands are globose. Our sections of active adult glands of P. fuseatus and P. canadensis clearly show these cells to be



================================================================================

19801 Post & Jeanne - Sternal Glands of Polistes 55 close packed and polygonal and bounded by a membrane. The discrepancy may be an artifact of the techniques used in each study. Hermann and Dirks (1974) sectioned fixed and embedded material, as we did, while Landolt and Akre (1979) dissected fixed specimens. It is possible that during dissection they may have ruptured the membrane enclosing the gland cells, allowing them to float free at the ends of their ducts and assume a spheroid form. On the other hand, it is possible that the difference is taxonomic. We have found that the class 3 cells on the fifth sternite of females of Polybia (Polistinae: Polybiini) are globose and apparently not bounded by a membrane, even in histological sections (Jeanne and Post, in preparation). It is not clear whether Landolt and Akre meant to generalize their statement to all genera they studied (Vespula, Dolichovespula, Vespa, Polistes, and Mischocyttarus) or just to Vespula and Doli- chovespula.
If the columnar epithelial cells associated with the ducted class 3 cells on the sixth sternite are indeed producing an exocrine secretion, it is not clear what its function could be. Even though this secretion would reach the cuticular surface to the side of the brush, it could well be applied to the nest petiole along with the product of the class 3 cells. Whether there it serves as a component of the ant repellent or has some other function is unknown. Alternatively, if it is volatile, it could evaporate from the cuticular surface, in which case its function is less likely to be involved with defense against ants. The fact that P. canadensis has approximately three times as many class 3 cells on sternite 6 as does P. fuscatus is consistent with the hypothesis that these cells produce the ant repellent that is applied to the nest petiole. Since ant predation pressure is higher in the tropics than temperate regions (Jeanne, 1979), one way P. canadensis, a tropical species, could counter this increased threat is by having more gland cells, producing greater amounts of ant repellent secretion. Turillazzi (1979) also found that P. gallicus, a species ranging into northern Europe, has fewer class 3 gland cells than does either P. omissus (Weyrauch) or P.foederatus, species of southern Europe and Africa (Kemper & Dohring, 1967). This correlation between gland size and geographic distribution need not, of course, rule out other hypotheses as to the function of the secretion. The role of the class 3 gland cells on sternite 5 is open to question. It is possible that the secretion has the same function as that of the 6th sternal gland, for, as Turillazzi (1979) points out, it would also be



================================================================================

56 Psyche [VOI, 87




================================================================================

19801 Post & Jeanne - Sternal Glands of Polistes 5 7
likely to be smeared onto the nest petiole during rubbing. On the other hand, at least three facts could be interpreted as arguments against an identical role: (1) P. fuscatus has more gland cells on the 5th sternite than does P. canadensis, just the reverse of the condition on sternite 6 (although the epidermal cells of this sternite are thicker in P. canadensis, suggesting perhaps that they have an independent function); (2) The tuft of long hairs present on sternite 6, where it presumably acts as an applicator brush, is absent from sternite 5; (3) the class 3 gland cells are distributed in a narrow transverse band on sternite 5, very unlike the two lateral clusters found on sternite 6. Although we detected no significant individual differences in gland size or morphology in either species, the ages and castes of our specimens were unknown. A careful EM study correlating degree of glandular activity with age and caste could provide useful insight into the function or functions of these glands. B. Jane Harrington provided helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. Martin Garment provided assistance and advice on scanning electron microscopy. We thank Donas Erica and Violeta Hagmann for their generous hospitality shown us during our stay in Brazil. This research was supported in part by the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and by National Science Foundation Grant BNS-77-0408 1. HERMANN, H.R. AND T.F. DIRKS
1974.
Sternal glands in Polistine wasps: morphology and associated behavior. J. Georgia Entomol. Soc. 9: 1-8.
JEANNE, R.L.
1970.
Chemical defense of brood by a social wasp. Science 168: 1465-1466. 1979.
A latitudinal gradient in ant predation pressure. Ecology 60: 12 1 1- 1224. KEMPER, H., AND E. DOHRING
1967.
Die sozialen Faltenwespen Mitteleuropas. Paul Parey, Berlin. 180 pp. LANDOLT, P.J. AND R.D. AKRE.
1979.
Occurrence and location of exocrine glands in some social Vespidae (Hymenoptera). Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 72: 141-148. NOIROT, C. AND A. QUENNEDEY
1974.
Fine structure of insect epidermal glands. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 19: 61-80. POST, D.C.
1980.
Chemical defense in the temperate social wasp, Polistesfuscatus (Hymen- optera; Vespidae). M.Sc. Thesis, Univ. Wisconsin, Madison.



================================================================================

5 8 Psyche [vo~. 87
RICHARDSON, K.C., L. JARRET AND E.H. FINKE 1960.
Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol. 35: 3 13-323.
SPURR, A.R.
1969. A low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastructure Res. 26: 31-43.
TURILLAZZI, S.
1979.
Tegumental glands in the abdomen of some European Polistes (Hymen- optera: Vespidae). Monitore Zool. Ital. (N.S.) 13: 67-70. TURILLAZZI, S. AND A. UGOLINI
1978. Nest defense in European Polistes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Monitore Zool. Ital. (N.S.) 12: 72.
1979.
Rubbing behaviour in some European Polistes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Monitore Zool. Ital. (N.S.) 13: 129-142. VAN DER VECHT, J.
1968. The terminal gastral sternite of female and worker social wasps. Proc. K. ned. Akad. Wet. (C) 71: 41 1-422.




================================================================================