Functionally, trophocytes are store houses of food material. Fat is the chief component. Glycogen and protein also are stored in them. Protein storage is marked in animals which hibernate. Nearly 33% of the weight of a mature Apis larva is due to trophocytes. The reserves in trophocytes are drawn up under conditions of starvation or inactivity. They contribute also to the development of eggs. The presence of lipase in fat droplets within cells indicate that hydrolysis into fatty acids and glycerol also occurs within this organ They then get transported to respiring tissues for utilisation.