The nasus gland: a new gland in soldiers of Angularitermes (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae).
Termites have developed many exocrine glands, generally dedicated to defence or communication. Although a few of these glands occur in all termite species, or represent synapomorphies of larger clades, others are morphological innovations of a single species, or a few related species. Here, we describe the nasus gland, a new gland occurring at the base of the nasus of Angularitermes soldiers. The nasus gland is composed of class 1, 2, and 3 secretory cells, a rare combination that is only shared by the sternal and tergal glands of some termites and cockroaches. The ultrastructural observations suggest that the secretion is produced by class 2 and 3 secretory cells, and released mostly by class 3 cells. The base of the nasus has a rough appearance due to numerous pits bearing openings of canals conducting the secretion from class 3 secretory cells to the exterior. We tentatively assign a defensive function to the nasus gland, although further research is needed to confirm this function. Although the gland is described only from species of Angularitermes, other genera of Nasutitermitinae also present a rough nasus base, suggesting the presence of a similar, possibly homologous, gland.
Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: sobotnik@fld.czu.cz.
Jan
J
Šobotník
Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Thomas
T
Bourguignon
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, 04218-970, Av. Nazaré, 481, Ipiranga, São Paulo, CEP 04263-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Tiago F
TF
Carrijo
Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, UMR 6265 CNRS, UMR 1324 INRA, Université de Bourgogne, Agrosup Dijon, 6 Bvd Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France.
Christian
C
Bordereau
Centre des Sciences du Goût et de l'Alimentation, UMR 6265 CNRS, UMR 1324 INRA, Université de Bourgogne, Agrosup Dijon, 6 Bvd Gabriel, 21000, Dijon, France.
Alain
A
Robert
Czech University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
Barbora
B
Křížková
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, 04218-970, Av. Nazaré, 481, Ipiranga, São Paulo, CEP 04263-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Joice P
JP
Constantini
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, 04218-970, Av. Nazaré, 481, Ipiranga, São Paulo, CEP 04263-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Eliana M
EM
Cancello
D000818:Animals; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020049:Isoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Cephalic gland; Defence; Exocrine organ; Isoptera; Neotropical region; Termite; Termitoidea