The insect cuticle serves many functions: desiccation prevention, structural support, an environmental barrier, and inter/intraspecific communication. Social taxa of the order Hymenoptera use chemical communication to relay information about age, colony status, and various other relationships between nestmates as well as other species. Also, in many fungus growing ants there is a relationship between antibacterial agents and the cuticular surface. Numerous genera of the ant tribe Dacetini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) have novel spongiform tissue associated with the petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral segment. The sponge body has a honeycomb architecture and varies in size and distribution among species (Bolton, 2000). We performed a histological study of the tissue from two species of Pyramica and found it to be rooted in a gland which produces a novel chemical sequestered on the spongiform tissue. To further investigate the chemistry of the glandular products I performed GC/Mass Spectrometry and determined that this secretion differs from thoracic cuticle hydrocarbons. The role of these secretions is unknown but we plan to investigate their potential role in nestmate recognition, prey attraction, bacterial symbiosis, and nest symbiosis with other ants. As well, we are looking into possible bacterial agents that might be associated with the Pyramica cuticle and the glandular product of the spongiform tissue. I am also currently exploring the physiological features of this sponge body to further understand features of the insect integument and the roles it plays in social behavior.