NEW ABDOMINAL GLANDS IN ANTS .1. PONERINI (FORMICIDAE, PONERINAE)

The abdominal glands of six ponerine ants belonging to the tribe Ponerini were analysed:Leptogenys ocellifera (Roger), Leptogenys chinensis (Mayr), Diacamma sp., Ponera coarctata (Latreille), Odontomachus haematodes (L.) and Harpegnathus saltator (Jerdon). A great variety of glands was found. An intersegmental complex gland is located between the sixth and seventh abdominal tergite in each species investigated. But size, arrangement of gland cells and shape of reservoir differ. In addition, representatives of the genus Leptogenys and H. saltator both have sternal intersegmental complex glands. In L. ocellifera and L. chinensis these glands are located between the fifth and sixth and also between the sixth and seventh abdominal sternite. In H. saltator one sternal gland is situated between the sixth and seventh abdominal sternite. In some species we found characteristical sculptures on the cuticle at the orifice of the well developed reservoirs of the glands. These sculptures could be interpreted as an enlarging of the surface of the cuticle or as a reservoir. Another type of gland cells are epithelial glandular cells. They form distinct layers on the seventh sternite in L. chinensis and on the sixth sternite in L. ocellifera. Tergo-sternal bunches of secretory cells were observed in Diacamma sp., P. coarctata, H. saltator and in O. haematodes. A similar variety of glands was found associated with the sting apparatus in the gonostyli, at the membrane between the two oblong plates and at the membranous connections between the sting apparatus and the last abdominal segment. In Diacamma sp. two distinct glandular cells are located in the gonostylar sclerites, i.e. secretory cells, each drained by a cuticular ductule and epithelial glandular cells. In the two representatives of the genus Leptogenys, in O. haematodes and in P. coarctata only the first type of gland cell was found. In these species as well as in H. saltator the epidermal cells of the gonostylar sclerites form different states of transition from degenerated epithelial cells to glandular epithelial cells. In H. saltator there are no secretory cells with a cuticular ductule in the gonostyli. Likewise, large paired complexes of gland cells were found at the base of two genostylar sclerites in H. saltator and in O. haernatodes. Though less developed, gland cells of the latter type are in Diacamma sp., P. coarctata and in L. chinensis also located at the base of the gonostyli. In Diacamma sp. the epidermal cells of the membrane connecting the two gonostyli do have secretory function. In the other species investigated they are less developed, and a secretory function cannot be considered certain. In each species investigated ductules of gland cells also open dorsolaterally into the sting chamber. Furthermore in Diacamma sp. P. coarctata, O. haematodes and in H. saltator, ductules of gland cells also open laterally and, except in O. haematodes, latero-ventrally into the membranous connection between the sting apparatus and the last abdominal segment. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.