Abstract
The phase microscopic observation of the hemocytes of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (FABRICIUS) yielded categorization into 7 classes: prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes, oenocytoids, podocytes, and granular plasmatocytes. Podocytes and vermiform cells (JONES, 1959) were classified in the same class as the "podocytes", because they morphologically transformed to the same spherical cells with fine extensions during incubation. They did not have a character of plasmatocytes. Granular plasmatocytes, which have been so far called granular hemocytes, had the character of plasmatocytes, spreading on a glass slide. Oenocytoids lucid immediately after bleeding. Total hemocyte counts were 1.4-2.1×104/μl, and the proportion of granulocytes and plasmatocytes was 37-47% and 16-35% from the 5th molting stage through 6th instar, respectively.
