Authors: Kehinde Olutoyin ADEMOLU , Adewunmi Babatunde IDOWU,Ganiyu OLATUNDE
Acta Entomologica sinica, April 2010, 53(4): 470-473
Abstract
The focus of this study is to examine the trend in the number and types of hemocytes in all the developmental stages of Zonocerus variegates. The types and number of hemocyte cells present in Z roriegatus during post-embryonic development was evaluated with the aid of hemacytometer. Six hemocyte cells were observed in all the developmental stages from the 1st instar larva to the adult stage, namely: prohaemocytes(PRS), plasmatocyte (PLS), granulocytes (GRS), sherulocytes (SPS), oenocytes (OES) and adipohaemocytes (ADS). However, OES was not found in the haemolyph of 1st INS tar larval stage. PLS had the highest total mean count while OES had the least total mean count of all the six hemocytes. The adult stage had significantly (P 0.05) higher hemocyte count relative to other developmental stages, however, no significant difference (P > 0. 05) existed between the hemocyte count of the 1st and the 2nd instar larval stages. This study shows that the adult stage is immununilogically able toadaptto the environment better than other lower developmental stages.