The body of the whitefly Aleurochiton aceris contains specialized cells, termed mycetocytes, that enclose endosymbiotic microorganisms. The endosymbionts are transmitted from one generation to the next transovarially. In contrast to other insects, in whiteflies whole intact mycetocytes migrate into the ovaries, traverse the follicular epithelium, and reach the oocyte surface (i.e., perivitellin space). The migration of mycetocytes begins in the last instar, called puparium, from which imagines emerge. During this stage the cytoplasm of mycetocytes is tightly packed with pleomorphic bacteria and less numerous coccoid microorganisms. In adult females the mycetocytes gather extracellularly in the depression of the vitellarial oocyte. Till the end of oogenesis neither pleomorphic nor coccoid microorganisms are released from mycetocytes into the oocyte.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.