Summary
The ultrastructure and excretions of the hindgut of larvæ of the imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren, is described. The anterior or base of the hindgut is closed and rooted (via the “dome”) in the posterior wall of the midgut, and is composed of basal cells of both the malpighian tubules and the small intestine (ileo-colon). The ileo-colon opens via a rectal valve into the rectum and transfers uric acid (white excretion) secreted by the malpighian tubules, into the rectum. The thin walled rectal epithelium has three rectal pads composed of large, cuboidal cells. The excretory product of larvæ consists of 2 components, a white precipitate composed of uric acid and a clear liquid consisting of water and salts. Ultrastructural and observational studies suggest that the rectal pads and malpighian tubules secrete the clear fluid from the hemolymph. Results of experiments with the waste products indicate that larval excretions are not ingested by other members of the colony except adults which under water stress do consume some of the clear liquid. The adults do participate in the removal of the excretory products from the brood chamber.
Resume
Nous décrivons dans cet article l'ultrastructure et la fonction de l'intestin postérieur chez la “fourmi de feu”Solenopsis invicta Buren. La base de l'intestin postérieur est fermée et insérée (par le “dôme”) dans la paroi postérieure de l'intestin moyen; elle est composée de cellules basales provenant à la fois des quatres tubes malpighiens et de l'intestin postérieur (ileo-colon). L'ileo-colon débouche, grâce à une valvule rectale, dans le rectum, et y déverse de l'acide urique (excrétion blanchâtre) sécrété par les tubes malipighiens. L'épithélium rectal à paroi mince possède trois papilles rectales composées de grosses cellules cuboïdes. Les matériaux excrétés par la larve consistent en deux éléments: un précipité blanc composé d'acide urique et un liquide clair composé d'eau et de sels. Les observations ultrastructurales suggèrent que les papilles rectales et les tubes malipighiens sécrètent le liquide clair à partir de l'hémolymphe; les résultats d'expériences menées sur les excréments indiquent par ailleurs que les excrétions larvaires ne sont pas ingérées par les autres membres de la colonie, à l'exception des adultes qui mangent du liquide clair en cas de déficit en eau. Les adultes transportent les matériaux excrétés hors du nid.
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Approved as TA-15842 by the Director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in cooperation with ARS, USDA. Supported by the Texas Department of Agriculture interagency agreement IAC-0487 (78–79).
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Petralia, R.S., Williams, H.J. & Vinson, S.B. The hindgut ultrastructure, and excretory products of larvae of the imported fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren. Ins. Soc 29, 332–345 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02228760
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02228760