ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE WAX GLAND COMPLEX AND SECRETION OF BEESWAX IN THE WORKER HONEY-BEE APIS-MELLIFERA L

The wax gland complex of the honey bee worker consists of 3 cell types , epithelial cells, oenocytes and adipocytes, which act synergisticall y to secrete wax, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, fatty acids and p roteins (lipophorins). The structure of the wax mirrors and the differ ent types of cells were studied with scanning and transmission electro n microscopy. The hydrocarbons coming from the oenocytes and the prote ins from the haemolymph transit across the epithelium via the large SE R cisternae and through the mirror plate along a well-developed extrac ellular and pore canal filamentous system connected to wax canal filam ents of the epicuticle.