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Dufour’s gland

honey bee, Dufour’s gland

The tip of abdomen of honey bee worker. Dufour’s gland is marked red. After Snodgrass (1910, fig. 36) The anatomy of the honey bee,
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology, Technical Series
, Volume 18, Washington, DC, p.1-162, (1910)
[1], Trojan (1930, fig. 1) Die dufoursche Drüse bei Apis mellifica,
Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere
, Volume 19, p.678-685, (1930)
[2] and Abdalla (2001, fig. 1C) Size differences in the Dufour gland of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) between and within the female castes,
Revista Brasileira de Zoologia
, Volume 18, p.119–123, (2001)
[3]. (scale bar = 0.5 mm)

Odc - common oviduct
PsnSc - poison sack
Qd - quadrate plate of stinghypopharyngeal glands
Rect - rectum


Dufour's gland (also called alkaline gland) occurs only in females (queens and workers) and it is absent in drones. It is an unpaired and unbranched epithelial sac. The glandular epithelium consists of a single layer of epithelial cells, which luminal surface is covered by cuticle. At the surface of the gland there are muscles Ultrastructural Aspects of Dufour's Gland of Three Day Old Worker Honey Bees, Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae),
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society
, Volume 62, Number 4, p.449–461, (1989)
[4] which can be used to discharge the gland's secretion. The gland opens into the dorsal vaginal wall Die dufoursche Drüse bei Apis mellifica,
Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere
, Volume 19, p.678-685, (1930)
[2]Sting glands in stingless bees-a vestigial character,
Journal of the New York Entomological Society
, Volume 70, p.190-214, (1962)
[5]Adnexal glands of the sting apparatus in bees: anatomy and histology, V (Hymenoptera: Apidae),
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society
, Volume 49, Number 1, p.85–99, (1976)
[6]Morphology of the Dufour gland within the honey bee sting gland complex,
Apidologie
, Volume 36, Number 4, p.543–546, (2005)
[7]. For details of ultrastructure see Ultrastructural Aspects of Dufour's Gland of Three Day Old Worker Honey Bees, Apis mellifera ligustica (Hymenoptera: Apidae),
Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society
, Volume 62, Number 4, p.449–461, (1989)
[4].

Size of the Dufour's gland differs between queens and workers Plasticity of caste-specific Dufour’s gland secretion in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.),
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 84, Number 6, p.238–241, (1997)
[8]. In queens its diameter is 0.27 mm and its length ranges from 2.45 to 2.77 mm Size differences in the Dufour gland of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) between and within the female castes,
Revista Brasileira de Zoologia
, Volume 18, p.119–123, (2001)
[3]. The gland length increases after start of egg lying by the queen Size differences in the Dufour gland of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) between and within the female castes,
Revista Brasileira de Zoologia
, Volume 18, p.119–123, (2001)
[3]. In workers the gland diameter ranges from 0.13 to 0.17 mm and the gland length ranges from 0.83 to 1.06 mm Size differences in the Dufour gland of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) between and within the female castes,
Revista Brasileira de Zoologia
, Volume 18, p.119–123, (2001)
[3] see also Die dufoursche Drüse bei Apis mellifica,
Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere
, Volume 19, p.678-685, (1930)
[2]. The gland is larger in laying workers and foragers Size differences in the Dufour gland of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Apidae) between and within the female castes,
Revista Brasileira de Zoologia
, Volume 18, p.119–123, (2001)
[3]. In workers of A. m. capensis the gland is particularly large Mimicry of queen Dufour's gland secretions by workers of Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis,
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 89, Number 12, p.561–564, (2002)
[9].

Secretion of the Dufour's gland contains hydrocarbons and esters Plasticity of caste-specific Dufour’s gland secretion in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.),
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 84, Number 6, p.238–241, (1997)
[8]. Queens produce much more of the secretion than workers and laying workers produce more of the secretion than workers without developed ovaries Plasticity of caste-specific Dufour’s gland secretion in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.),
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 84, Number 6, p.238–241, (1997)
[8]. In workers there is a positive correlation between development of ovaries and both amount of the secretion Dufour’s gland pheromone as a reliable fertility signal among honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 58, Number 3, p.270–276, (2005)
[10] and proportion of esters to hydrocarbons Queen–signal modulation of worker pheromonal composition in honeybees,
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
, Volume 271, Number 1552, p.2065, (2004)
[11]. In hopelessly queenless colonies workers producing more esters are more often attacked by other workers Aggressive reproductive competition among hopelessly queenless honeybee workers triggered by pheromone signaling,
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 95, Number 6, p.553–559, (2008)
[12]. Also composition of the secretion differs between queen and workers Plasticity of caste-specific Dufour’s gland secretion in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.),
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 84, Number 6, p.238–241, (1997)
[8]. The secretion of queens and laying workers contains both esters and hydrocarbons but secretion of non reproducing workers contains only hydrocarbons Plasticity of caste-specific Dufour’s gland secretion in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.),
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 84, Number 6, p.238–241, (1997)
[8]Queen–signal modulation of worker pheromonal composition in honeybees,
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
, Volume 271, Number 1552, p.2065, (2004)
[11]Mimicry of queen Dufour's gland secretions by workers of Apis mellifera scutellata and A. m. capensis,
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 89, Number 12, p.561–564, (2002)
[9]Conservation of Bio synthetic pheromone pathways in honeybees Apis,
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 91, Number 5, p.232–236, (2004)
[13]Egg marking pheromones of anarchistic worker honeybees (Apis mellifera),
Behavioral Ecology
, Volume 15, Number 5, p.839-844, (2004)
[14]. In comparison to wild type laying workers laying workers of anarchistic bees produce particularly large amount of esters Egg marking pheromones of anarchistic worker honeybees (Apis mellifera),
Behavioral Ecology
, Volume 15, Number 5, p.839-844, (2004)
[14]. Besides non reproducing workers differ from queens and reproducing workers in presence of eicosenol which is probably produced by the Dufour's gland Conservation of Bio synthetic pheromone pathways in honeybees Apis,
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 91, Number 5, p.232–236, (2004)
[13]Egg marking pheromones of anarchistic worker honeybees (Apis mellifera),
Behavioral Ecology
, Volume 15, Number 5, p.839-844, (2004)
[14]. The hydrocarbons present in the secretion produced by queens were also found in tergal glands Decyl decanoate: a major component of the tergite glands of honeybee queens (Apis mellifera L.).,
Journal of Apicultural Research
, Volume 29, Number 1, p.15–19, (1990)
[15] and cuticular substances Hydrocarbons of the cuticle and hemolymph of the adult honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae),
Annals of the Entomological Society of America
, Volume 82, Number 4, p.486–494, (1989)
[16]. Composition of the secretion can change after insemination Chemical Profiles of Two Pheromone Glands Are Differentially Regulated by Distinct Mating Factors in Honey Bee Queens (Apis mellifera L.),
PLOS ONE
, Volume 8, Number 11, p.e78637, (2013)
[17] or onset of oviposition by the queen The biosynthesis of Dufour’s gland constituents in queens of the honeybee (Apis mellifera),
Invertebrate Neuroscience
, Volume 3, p.239-243, (1997)
[18]Effects of Instrumental Insemination and Insemination Quantity on Dufour’s Gland Chemical Profiles and Vitellogenin Expression in Honey Bee Queens (Apis mellifera),
Journal of Chemical Ecology
, Volume 37, p.1027–1036, (2011)
[19]. The secretion of laying workers can inhibit ovary development in other workers Dufour’s gland pheromone as a reliable fertility signal among honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 58, Number 3, p.270–276, (2005)
[10]. The secretion produced in vitro can differ from that produced in vivo The biosynthesis of Dufour’s gland constituents in queens of the honeybee (Apis mellifera),
Invertebrate Neuroscience
, Volume 3, p.239-243, (1997)
[18]Plasticity in caste-related exocrine secretion biosynthesis in the honey bee (Apis mellifera),
Journal of Insect Physiology
, Volume 46, Number 6, p.993–998, (2000)
[20]Brain modulation of Dufour’s gland ester biosynthesis in vitro in the honeybee (Apis mellifera),
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 94, Number 5, p.407–411, (2007)
[21].

The secretion is present on worker layed eggs Egg marking pheromones of anarchistic worker honeybees (Apis mellifera),
Behavioral Ecology
, Volume 15, Number 5, p.839-844, (2004)
[14], queen layed eggs, walls of genital chamber and on the tip of queens' abdomen Dufour's gland secretion of the queen honeybee (Apis mellifera): an egg discriminator pheromone or a queen signal?,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 51, Number 1, p.76–86, (2001)
[22].

The Dufour's gland secretion is attractive to workers and can be responsible for retinue formation around queens New components of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) queen retinue pheromone,
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
, Volume 100, Number 8, p.4486-4491, (2003)
[23] and laying workers Dufour's gland secretion of the queen honeybee (Apis mellifera): an egg discriminator pheromone or a queen signal?,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 51, Number 1, p.76–86, (2001)
[22]. The secretion of queens is more attractive to workers than the secretion of laying workers Honeybee egg-laying workers mimic a queen signal,
Insectes Sociaux
, Volume 50, Number 1, p.20–23, (2003)
[24]. Ester and not hydrocarbons are responsible for the attractiveness Honeybee egg-laying workers mimic a queen signal,
Insectes Sociaux
, Volume 50, Number 1, p.20–23, (2003)
[24]. The secretion produced by non-laying workers does not contain esters, therefore, it is not attractive to other workers Honeybee egg-laying workers mimic a queen signal,
Insectes Sociaux
, Volume 50, Number 1, p.20–23, (2003)
[24].

It has been suggested that the secretion contains an egg marking pheromone which allows discrimination between queens' and workers' eggs Evidence for a queen-produced egg-marking pheromone and its use in worker policing in the honey bee,
Journal of Apicultural Research
, Volume 34, p.31-37, (1995)
[25], however this was not confirmed Dufour's gland secretion of the queen honeybee (Apis mellifera): an egg discriminator pheromone or a queen signal?,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 51, Number 1, p.76–86, (2001)
[22]Reassessing the role of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) Dufour's gland in egg marking,
Naturwissenschaften
, Volume 89, Number 11, p.528–532, (2002)
[26]Honeybees Dufour’s gland—idiosyncrasy of a new queen signal,
Apidologie.
, Volume 33, p.525-537, (2002)
[27]Egg marking pheromones of anarchistic worker honeybees (Apis mellifera),
Behavioral Ecology
, Volume 15, Number 5, p.839-844, (2004)
[14]. It has been also suggested that the secretion can be used by some laying workers to evade egg removal Evolution of worker sterility in honey-bees (Apis mellifera): how anarchistic workers evade policing by laying eggs that have low removal rates,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 47, Number 4, p.268–273, (2000)
[28] but see Evolution of worker sterility in honey bees: egg-laying workers express queen-like secretion in Dufour's gland,
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
, Volume 51, Number 6, p.588–589, (2002)
[29].

In older publications it was suggested that the secretion provides protective coating for eggs, it is used as an adhesive with which eggs are attached to the bottom of the comb cell Die dufoursche Drüse bei Apis mellifica,
Zeitschrift für Morphologie und Ökologie der Tiere
, Volume 19, p.678-685, (1930)
[2] or that it is a sting lubricant Source of the Ether-Solvible Organics of Stings of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae),
Annals of the Entomological Society of America
, Volume 61, Number 1, p.5–8, (1968)
[30]. Those suggestions were not verified.

Dufour's gland is homologous with colleterial glands of other insects. During development it is formed as invagination of the ninth sternum Morphology of the venom apparatus,
Venoms of the Hymenoptera: biochemical, pharmacological, and behavioural aspects
, London, p.17–44, (1986)
[31] p.20. The gland occurs in most Apocrita but its secretion and function differs between species. In species other than honey bee it can produce building material, larval food or pheromones Function of the Dufour’s gland in solitary and social Hymenoptera,
Journal of Hymenoptera Research
, Volume 35, p.33–58, (2013)
[32].

Other references: Changes in the morphology of the Dufour gland of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) during the life stages of the female castes,
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia
, Volume 45, Number 2, p.123–129, (2001)
[33]Behavioral Responses Evoked in Honey Bee Workers by Dufour Gland Extracts(Hymenoptera: Apidae),
Sociobiology
, Volume 37, Number 3, p.673–678, (2001)
[34]Effect of topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) in honeybee worker larvae on the development of Dufour's and Koschewnikow's glands,
Sociobiology
, Volume 37, p.185–191, (2001)
[35]Morphological, chemical and developmental aspects of the Dufour gland in some eusocial bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae): a review,
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia
, Volume 50, Number 2, p.153–162, (2006)
[36]