Hagen's glands of the parasitic wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): ultrastructure and the detection of entomopoxvirus and parasitism-specific proteins.

Hagen's glands of males of the parasitic wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) secrete compounds that are involved in courtship and defense. Like the poison glands of female wasps, the Hagen's glands are secretory, membranous, and of ectodermal origin. The poison glands contain the symbiotic entomopoxvirus, DlEPV and the parasitism-specific protein, PSP 24. DlEPV proteins were detected in homogenates of male wasps. Our goal was to describe the ultrastructure of the Hagen's glands and determine whether they contain DlEPV virions and/or proteins as well as PSP 24. The Hagen's glands are bilateral and each consists of 12-16 tubules arranged in two clusters. In cross-section, a tubule has three zones that enclose a central cuticle-lined lumen. The outermost zone consists of aggregates ('islands') of small vesicles, interconnected by narrow ductules that lead to large cuticle-lined ducts, which transport electron-dense material to the lumen prior to its release from the gland. Large vesicles in Zone 2 and a thick layer of ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticula in Zone 3 are the likely sites of storage and protein synthesis, respectively. While DlEPV virions were not seen in the Hagen's gland, DlEPV and PSP 24 proteins were present.