Abstract
Granular plasmatocytes in Spodoptera litura (FABRICIUS), which until now have been called granular hemocytes, were specifically stained pink by May-Grunwald. They had a character of plasmatocytes: they spread on a glass slide, participated in encapsulation against large latex particles, and did not function as phagocytes against India ink. Oenocytoids, which were characterized by their rapid lysis and ovoid forms, contained a prophenoloxidase-activating-system: only oenocytoids, which were fixed with glutaraldehyde, formed melanin in the presence of DOPA. This reaction was inhibited by pNPGB, a serine-type protease inhibitor.
