Preliminary Studies on the Bacterial Cell-mass (Accessory Cell-mass) of Calandra oryzae (Linn.): The Rice Weevil

Abstract

1. The bacteria within the ‘bacterial cells’ of Calandra are in the form of bacilli. 2. The bacilli do not pass into the alimentary tract of the larva. 3. In the adult the bacilli pass from their host-cells into the lumen of the gut, mix with the food there, and pass out with the faeces mostly in the form of cocci. 4. The relation between Calandra and the intracellular bacteria is obscure and so far cannot be described as symbiotic. 5. ‘Bacterial cells’ have been found at the anterior tips of the ovarioles. 6. The ovarian eggs are invaded at a very early stage during their growth by bacteria coming from the ‘ovarian bacterial cells’. 7. The bacteria remain in the cytoplasm of the egg scattered in between the yolk globules throughout the early embryonic life. 8. In all developing eggs the ‘alimentary bacterial cellmass’ appears during the latter part of embryonic life. 9. In the eggs destined to give rise to females the genital rudiments are associated with ‘bacterial cells’. 10. The developmental history of the ‘ovarian bacterial cells’ has been followed out.