The pygidial glands o/Dinoponera australis appear as two very large cell clusters underneath the anterior margin on either side of the seventh tergite.The polygonal secretory cells are associated with slender duct cells, that carry the secretion into the reservoir, which is formed by the invaginated intersegmental membrane between the 6th and 7th tergites.Ultrastructural examination reveals the occurrence of a vesicular smooth endoplasmic reticulum, a well developed Golgi apparatus and abundant mitochondria.These characteristics may correspond with the elaboration of a pheromonal secretion.The pygidial gland in this species is probably involved in its generalized recruitment system.
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Billen et al. (1994) studied this question.
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