Morphology of the pygidial glands and chemical composition of their secretions in two species of tiger beetles (Carabidae: Cicindelinae)

Abstract

Pygidial glands are a common feature of all adephagans and their products play an important role in defense against predators. The morphology of the pygidial glands and the chemistry of their secretion were studied for the first time in two species of tiger beetles – Cicindela (Cicindela) sylvicola Dejean, 1822 and Cylindera (Cylindera) germanica (Linnaeus, 1758). The glands were examined by both bright-field microscopy and nonlinear microscopy. All morphological structures of the glands were measured and described in detail. The structures mentioned were compared with those of related taxa. The secretion extracts from the pygidial glands of the investigated taxa contained a total of 24 compounds, which were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The secretion mixture of C. (C.) germanica was more complex (21 chemicals) than that of C. (C.) sylvicola (11 ones). Benzaldehyde was present in both secretion samples. Hydrocarbons were the most abundant group of secretory compounds. The purpose of the compounds, their distribution within the subfamily Cicindelinae and their effects on the ecology of the group were discussed.