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

Morphologie et ultrastructure des glandes des cornules des mâles d'abeilles (Apis mellifera) en fonction de l'âge

Lien Moors , Johan Billen

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.

Mots clés: morphology; cornua glands; Apis mellifera; drones<br>---<br>Apis mellifera; mâle; morphologie; cornule; glande

Domaines: Zoologie des invertébrés; Biodiversité; Ecologie, Environnement; Science des productions animales

Lien Moors, Johan Billen. Age-dependent morphology and ultrastructure of the cornua glands in drones of Apis mellifera. Apidologie, 2009, 40 (6), ⟨10.1051/apido/2009033⟩. ⟨hal-00892038⟩