Secretions from the Lateral Scent Glands of the Green Vegetable Bug, Nezara viridula

Abstract

GREAT interest attaches to the division of biosynthetic activities between the different types of cell in a gland complex and to the mechanisms whereby toxic secretions are prevented from causing harm during synthesis and storage. The scent gland complex (Fig. 1) of Nezara viridula var. smaragdula (F.) consists of a median ventral metathoracic scent reservoir, which is orange yellow in colour, and of paired colourless lateral glands sometimes called accessory glands. The lateral glands discharge through ducts into the reservoir, which also receives secretions from the gland cells which form its epithelium. The multicomponent secretion stored in the reservoir is used in defence and the gland complex resembles that of other Pentatomid and Coreid^1,2 bugs.