Morphology of the Sternal Glands of Polistes Fuscatus and P. Canadensis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)
1980
David C. Post | Robert L. Jeanne
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).
Show more [+] Less [-]Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Directory of Open Access Journals