Ultrastructural and quantitative studies of hemocytes in the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

ABSTRACT

Six circulating hemocytes cell types from Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) larvae were identified by transmission and scanning electron microscope prohemocytes (PR), plasmatocytes (PL) granulocytes (GR), spherulocytes (SP), oenocytoids (OE) and vermicytes (VE). The PR was the smallest cell type with a large nucleus, a cytoplasm with few organelles and a homogenous smooth surface. The PL was polymorphic and abundant, with a cytoplasm rich in organelles and a cellular surface with several cytoplasmic projections. The GR was abundant, showing two types of membrane-bounded granules (dense and structutered), glycogen, lipid droplets and a surface with philopodial projections. The SP was a large cell, with a cytoplasm full of intracytoplasmic spherules. The OE was the largest hemocyte type with a large and homogeneous cytoplasm and scarce organelles. The VE was discoid in shape and showed electron-dense granules