Abstract：
The large abundance of termites is partially achieved by their defensive abilities. Stylotermitidae represented by a single extant genus, Stylotermes, is a member of a termite group Neoisoptera that encompasses 83% of termite species and 94% of termite genera and is characterized by the presence of the frontal gland. Within Neoisoptera, Stylotermitidae represents a species-poor sister lineage of all other groups. We studied the structure of the frontal, labral and labial glands in soldiers and workers of Stylotermes faveolus, and the composition of the frontal gland secretion in S. faveolus and Stylotermes halumicus. We show that the frontal gland is a small active secretory organ in soldiers and workers. It produces a cocktail of monoterpenes in soldiers, and some of these monoterpenes and unidentified proteins in workers. The labral and labial glands are developed similarly to other termite species and contribute to defensive activities (labral in both castes, labial in soldiers) or to the production of digestive enzymes (labial in workers). Our results support the importance of the frontal gland in the evolution of Neoisoptera. Toxic, irritating and detectable monoterpenes play defensive and pheromonal functions and are likely critical novelties contributing to the ecological success of these termites.
摘要：
大量的白蚁部分是通过它们的防御能力来实现的。Stylotermiddae由一个现存的属代表，Stylotermes,是白蚁群新异翅目的成员，包括83％的白蚁物种和94％的白蚁属，其特征在于额腺的存在。在新异翅目中，Stylotermidedae代表所有其他群体中物种贫乏的姐妹谱系。我们研究了额叶的结构，Stylotermesfaveolus的士兵和工人的唇腺和唇腺，以及S.faveolus和Stylotermeshalumicus中额叶腺分泌的组成。我们表明，额叶腺是士兵和工人的一个小的活跃分泌器官。它在士兵中产生一种单萜鸡尾酒，以及工人身上的一些单萜和未鉴定的蛋白质。唇腺和唇腺的发育与其他白蚁物种相似，并有助于防御活动（两个种姓的唇腺，士兵的阴唇）或消化酶的产生（工人的阴唇）。我们的结果支持额腺在新异翅目进化中的重要性。有毒,刺激性和可检测的单萜具有防御性和信息素功能，并且可能是有助于这些白蚁取得生态成功的重要新颖性。
