Abstract
Insect mandibular glands are exocrine organs that produce chemical substances known as pheromones that play an important role in intra-specific communication of insects. The mandibular glands of Apis mellifera, which are more highly developed in queens than in workers, present caste-specific polymorphism which seems to be regulated by the juvenile hormone (JH). These glands develop at the pupation stage, during which the titer of JH is higher in queens. In spite of this observation, application recounted here of juvenile hormone on 5th-instar workers' larvae of Apis mellifera did not produce a significant effect on the size of the mandibular glands. Therefore, we may conclude that the response of insect organs to the exogenous application of JH varies according to the type of organ, its developmental program, and its developmental stage, as well as to the amount of hormone applied.
Highlights
The mandibular glands of Apis mellifera are exocrine glands responsible for the production of pheromones, which play a direct role in communication among members of the colony
As pointed out in the introduction, the mandibular glands of queens of Apis mellifera are much larger than those of workers and juvenile hormone (JH) action, which is present in higher levels in queens, accounts for this caste differentiation
Our hypothesis was that extra doses of the hormone applied to workers’ larvae would stimulate glandular development similar to that seen in the mandibular glands of queens
Summary
The mandibular glands of Apis mellifera are exocrine glands responsible for the production of pheromones, which play a direct role in communication among members of the colony. The mandibular glands arise during pupation (Cruz-Landim & Melo, 1967) and, their development is directly or indirectly under the effect of the juvenile hormone (JH). These glands present different sizes and functions in workers and queens of A. mellifera, being larger in the queens (Snodgrass, 1956; Cruz-Landim, 1967; Gracioli & Silva de Moraes, 2002a). The mandibular glands of A. mellifera appear as sac-shaped structures, presenting an epithelium of flattened cells that delimits a central reservoir (Vallet et al, 1991; Lensky & Cassier, 1995). The epithelial cells are classified as Class III glandular cells (Noirot & Quennedey, 1991; Quennedey, 1998)
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