Venom gland and reservoir morphology in cynipoid wasps

The venom apparatus morphology was examined in 25 species of Cynipoidea, representing 11 parasitoid taxa; 12 gall inducers and two inquilines. Typically the venom apparatus consists of an oval or bilobed reservoir connected to the ovipositor apparatus by a very short venom duct at the anterior end a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arthropod structure & development 2006-06, Vol.35 (2), p.127-136
Main Author: Vardal, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biologi
Biology
Cynipidae
Cynipoidea
exocrine glands
Figitidae
Gall inducer
gall inducers
galls
Ibaliidae
Inquiline
inquilinism
insect morphology
life history
NATURAL SCIENCES
NATURVETENSKAP
ovipositor
Ovipositor apparatus
Parasitoid
parasitoids
phylogeny
Venom apparatus
venom reservoir
venoms
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Summary:The venom apparatus morphology was examined in 25 species of Cynipoidea, representing 11 parasitoid taxa; 12 gall inducers and two inquilines. Typically the venom apparatus consists of an oval or bilobed reservoir connected to the ovipositor apparatus by a very short venom duct at the anterior end and to a single elongate unbranched venom gland at or near its posterior end. The Dufour's gland was not found in any of the examined species. The elongate unbranched venom gland and the absence of the Dufour's gland are putative cynipoid synapomorphies. The shape and size of especially the venom reservoir were found to vary considerably within the Cynipoidea. It is typically less prominent in the parasitoid taxa than in the gall inducers. Exceptions include the poppy gallers Barbotinia and Aylax, in which the venom reservoirs were remarkably small and in the rose galler Diplolepis, where only a rudimentary venom apparatus was found. Possible functional and phylogenetic implications of cynipoid venom apparatus features are discussed.
ISSN:1467-8039
1873-5495
1873-5495
DOI:10.1016/j.asd.2006.05.002