A specialized organ that is linked to the gut in beetles and host to a symbiotic yeast. The yeast cells assist in the digestion of less nutritious foods, supply needed B-vitamins and sterols, and provide resistance to certain toxins. [ ENVO:01000166 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasioderma_serricorne PLB:plb ]
Term information
- ENVO:01000166
either of a pair of organs in an insect (as a true bug) that consist of a cellular mass of mycetocytes and are located one in either fat body. a cell in various insects (as most true bugs) of a type that contains unicellular and prob. symbiotic fungi and is usu. clustered with others of its kind into paired mycetomes.