The Ultramorphological Comparison of The Venom Apparatus of Polistes gallicus (L.), Polistes dominulus (Christ) and Vespula germanica (Fab.) (Vespidae: Hymenoptera)

Abstract

In this study, the morphology of the venom apparatus of species of Polistes gallicus (Linneaus, 1767), Polistes nimpha (Christ, 1791) and Vespula germanica (Fabricius, 1793) were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (LEO 440) at 20 kV and compared the structure of the venom apparatus of the species. Samples were collected from different areas and brought to laboratory in appropriate circumtances. The venom apparatus (glands) of wasps and needles were removed under the stereomicroscope. Samples of tissues from the wasps were prepared to the method of electron microscopy. At the venom apparatus of Polistes gallicus (L.), it was observed that: The poison sac was in a muscular structure and round shape, the poison sting needles were curved at basal and sharply pointed, the palps were shorter than the sting, there were short dense hairs on apex of the palps. At the venom apparatus of Polistes nimpha (Christ), it was noticed that the poison sac was muscular, in an oval shape and lengthwise, the tip of poison sting was curled on apex towards ventral, the palps were shorter than the sting, the terminal of palps was covered with long and heavy feathers. At the venom apparatus of Vespula germanica (Fab.), it was found that the poison sac structure was muscular, in oval and circle shaped, the apex of the sting was stubby, the palps covered with long and fully feathers from basal to apex were longer than the sting. It is considered that morphological variation in terms of taxonomy is very important.