The ultrastructure of silk glands in adult females of sphecid wasps is described. Individual glands are scattered in the more posterior portion of the metasoma being each gland formed by an enlarged secretory unity with one conducting canal. Each secretory unit is a gland cell containing a large lumen and numerous secretory granules, which are delimited by membrane and filled with middle electron dense content of homogeneous aspect, which are exocytosed into the extra cellular lumen. Cell cytoplasm is filled with rough endoplasmic reticulum, polyribosomes and Golgi apparatuses profiles. The basal plasma membrane has many short infoldings and is lined by a thin basement membrane. The apical membrane is invaginated to form the boundary of the lumen,... |