Issue Apidologie Volume 40, Number 6, November-December 2009 Page(s) 600 - 607 DOI 10.1051/apido/2009033 Published online 06 June 2009

Apidologie 40 (2009) 600-607
DOI: 10.1051/apido/2009033

Age-dependent morphology and ultrastructure of the cornua glands in drones of Apis mellifera

Lien Moors and Johan Billen

Zoological Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, box 2466, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Received 16 December 2008 – Revised 26 February 2009 – Accepted 6 March 2009 - Published online 6 June 2009

Abstract - We investigated the age-dependent morphology and ultrastructure of the cornua glands in drones of Apis mellifera. Two epithelial types could be distinguished, each corresponding with a different type of cuticle. The thickness of both epithelia decreases during the period of sexual maturation. Ultrastructural research did not reveal a difference between the two epithelia.

Key words: morphology / cornua glands / Apis mellifera / drones


© INRA, DIB-AGIB, EDP Sciences 2009

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