Haemocytes during Different Stages of Lifecycle in Bombyx mori (L.)

Abstract

Haemocytes in insects mediates the cellular responses like phagocytosis, encapsulation and clotting which signifies the immunological functions of any insect. In the domesticated variety of silkworm B.mori five types of haemocytes have been identified in all the stages. The most abundant cell was found to be plasmatocytes followed by Granular cells. Spherule cells and Oenocytoids were found to less during IV and V instars and least or absent in all other stages. Haemocytes found be to fluctuating before and after spinning. Plasmatocytes and granular cells decreased gradually with respect to number of days in pupa. The total haemocytic count increases gradually in the silkworm larval stages and found to be maximum at the last instar and least during adult stages where the role of haemocytes is not required because they die after laying eggs.