Light and electron microscopic aspects of glands and pseudoglandular structures in the legs of bees (Hymenoptera, Apinae, Euglossini)

ABSTRACT

The presence of glands and pseudoglandular structures in the legs of male and female of Euglossine bees was studied. Insect gland cells belonging to class I or class III are present in all pairs of legs and in all leg segments. Pseudoglandular structures are present in the male pretarsus, which lacked a typical tarsal gland. A special, probably absorptive epidermis, is present in addition to class III glandular cells in this segment. The basitarsus epidermis has special features which differed from other bees, and males have a tibial organ in the hind pair of legs. Light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the component parts of these structures showed that the tibial organ consists of three morphologically distinct parts, which could be distinguished in Euglossa cordata, Eulaema mandibularis and Eufrisea violacens. However, in Exaerete smaradigina, zone III was absent and there was a poorly defined zone IV.