Ultrastructure of the gland responsible for the synthesis of an aggregation pheromone in Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

The ultrastructure of the glands responsible for synthesizing the aggregati on pheromone rhynchophorol in the beetle Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) was st udied. Glands from live beetles were removed and examined under a light mic roscope using semithin sections (similar to 1 mu m) and under a transmissio n electron microscope (TEM) using ultrathin sections (60 nm). The glands sh ow an alveolar structure without a reservoir and the cells making up the gl and are arranged in a typical acinus pattern. The existence of two types of cells with different electron densities, secretion canaliculi, numerous mi tochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum in abundance were observed. The se latter organelles are characteristic of cells which synthetize non-prote inaceous substances and are thus, likely candidates for the producion of rh ynchophorol.