Psithyrus females do possess wax glands

摘要

In behavioural experiments and histological investigations we could demonstrate that the previously widespread generalization that females of the social parasite genus Bombus subgenus Psithyrus do not possess wax glands is not justified. Wax pieces that accumulated on the abdomina of Bombus vestalis, B. sylvestris, and B. bohemicus females which were prevented from self-grooming provided the first evidence for wax production in these species. A histological analysis of epithelial tissues confirmed the existence of epithelial wax glands.