Such a biofilm formation of Paederus endosymbionts might defend the egg and the symbiotic bacteria from adverse environmental conditions after oviposition like foreign colonization with moulds or pathogenic soil bacteria (O’Tool & Kolter, 1998). A biofilm might protect the oviposited eggs against the impact of rainwater and prevent that symbiotic cells are flushed away. However, the endosymbiont containing matrix might likewise represent a gelatinous secretion cyst that is released together with a definite amount of symbiotic bacteria from specific, not yet discovered, transmission organs and smeared on the egg Selleck Everolimus surface during egg deposition (Meixner, 1932; Howard & Kistner,

1978; De Marzo, 1986; Hanley, 1996). As smearing of the egg surface with endosymbiotic bacteria has been known as a transmission route for extracellular symbionts for a long time (Steinhaus, 1946), the explanation given above appears to be the most likely for the observed biofilm-like structure of an essentially ‘pure culture’ of endosymbionts on P. riparius eggs. Generally, symbiont transmission from female host insects to their eggs is easily conceived, if endosymbionts are located within the insects’ intestinal epithelium or intestinal lumen (Dettner, 2003). Symbionts mixed with faeces are deposited on the eggshell

and can be orally ingested by the ‘sterile’ larvae (Dettner, 2003). However, more complicated methods of symbiont transmission occur for P. riparius endosymbionts that are located within the abdominal cavity outside the gut. The endosymbiotic Pictilisib order bacteria of P. riparius are most probably located in not yet identified compartments within the female internal genitalia and are applied

to the eggshell inside the efferent duct, into which the bacteria are released (Fig. 3). In case of certain stink bugs (Acanthosomatidae: Hemiptera), symbionts are located in a pair of transmission organs. Necessarily, only a well-dosed amount of these bacteria is squeezed into the learn more genital opening by the passing eggs and thus gets onto the egg shell (Buchner, 1965). Such ‘smear-organs’ generally become essential where symbiotic bacteria are not harboured within the intestinal lumen. Mostly, special reservoirs that are lined with chitin are closely connected with the ovipositor, as in the case of certain weevils (Curculionidae: Coleoptera). These beetles harbour their endosymbionts within evaginations at the beginning of the midgut and exhibit two clubbed symbiont-containing organs with a narrow passageway leading to the egg depositor. These symbiont organs are endowed with well-developed longitudinal muscles that enable a dosed release of symbionts to the egg surface (Buchner, 1960, 1969). Stereomicroscopic observation of several eggs with currently hatching P.