THE DYNAMICS OF ENDOSYMBIOSIS DURING DEVELOPMENT IN THE GERMAN COCKROACH, BLATTELLA GERMANICA L. (BLATTODEA)

Abstract

SUMMARY The changes in the numbers and the sizes of mycetocytes of the fat body and in the area of the adipose lobes in Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea) have been studied. The number of mycetocytes tends to increse and their area to decrease towards the end of every nymphal instar. The lobe area is smallest at the beginning of each instar, independently of age. These results show that the timing of division of the mycetocytes is controlled by the insect.