Abstract
IT is well known from the work of Buchner1, Breitsprecher2, and others that mycetomes occur at the anterior end of the larval midgut of several species of Anobiid beetles. The mycetocytes are distended with micro-organisms which are of obscure taxonomy, but appear yeast-like, and of which the symbiotic role has been established by Koch's3 demonstration of their necessary presence in Sitodrepa panicea, if the larva is to grow normally. Blewett and Fraenkel4 have shown that the presence of the symbionts in Sitodrepa larvæ can offset a dietary deficiency of five vitamins of the B group: the symbionts in Lasioderma serricorne can apparently supply six of these vitamins to the larva.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Buchner, P., “Tier und Pflanze in Symbiose” (Borntraeger, Berlin, 1930).
Breitsprecher, E., Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere, 11, 495 (1928).
Koch, A., Biol. Zbl., 53, 199 (1933).
Blewett, M., and Fraenkel, G., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 132, 212 (1944).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PARKIN, E. Symbiosis in Ptilinus pectinicornis L.. Nature 170, 847 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/170847a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/170847a0
This article is cited by
-
�ber Isolierung, Kultur und Taxonomie einiger Anobiidensymbionten (Insecta, Coleoptera)
Archiv f�r Mikrobiologie (1970)
-
Die Symbiose der Anobiiden und Cerambyciden mit hefeartigen Pilzen
Archiv f�r Mikrobiologie (1962)
-
Vergleichend morphologische und physiologische Studien an Anobiiden- und Cerambyciden-Symbionten
Zeitschrift f�r Morphologie und �kologie der Tiere (1954)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.