Summary
In the queenless antDiacamma australe, all workers eclose with a pair of tiny thoracic appendages (‘gemmae’). These are sac-like and exhibit a distinct cuticular sculpturing, with minute pores opening on the outer surface. These pores are connected to glandular cells which completely fill the appendages, and thus an exocrine stignal is likely to be released. We discuss the social context of this signal: only one worker in each colony retains the gemmae.
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Peeters, C., Billen, J.P.J. A novel exocrine gland inside the thoracic appendages (‘gemmae’) of the queenless antDiacamma australe. Experientia 47, 229–231 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01958143
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01958143