Convoluted and venom glands of different species of wasps

Abstract

The social Hymenoptera increasingly arouse the attention of researchers due to the great economic and ecological importance to the species belonging to this order. The processes of pollination performed by these insects, the biological control, the structures of nests and colonies, the social organization, the accidents arising from their stings and the pharmacological potential of venoms synthesized by them, represent some of the features that make these individuals, targets of important studies. The sting apparatus and venom represent fundamental defense mechanisms of these insects. In order to characterize the convoluted and the venom gland of these species and gain an understanding of the relationship between the components, this study aimed to analyze through morphology and histochemical techniques the venom glands of the wasps, Polistes versicolor, Agelaia palipes palipes and Polybia paulista, and also the convoluted gland - a structure found in the reservoir, establishing the defining characteristics of these structures. In addition to the morphological features described about these structures, our results showed the presence of secretion produced by the convoluted gland cells which indicates that this structure contributes to the final composition of the venom produced and stored in the reservoir.