Haemocyte Morphology and Differential Haemocyte Counts of Giant Ladybird Beetle, Anisolemnia dilatata (F.) (Coleoptera:Coccinellidae):A Unique Predator of Bamboo Woolly Aphids

Changes in haemolymph characteristics such as differential counts of haemocytes have direct bearing on the general performance of insects. The present study was carried out to generate data on the morphology of different haemocytes and their differential counts of giant ladybird predator, Anisolemnia dilatata (F.), unique to woolly aphid pests of bamboo habitat. Five types of haemocytes, viz. prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes and oenocytes were morphologically characterized in the haemolymph of larvae, pupae, virgin females and males. Among these, plasmatocytes were dominant followed by granulocytes, prohaemocytes, spherulocytes and oenocytes. Granulocytes showed consistency in numbers in all life cycle stages from first instar larva to adults of males and females of the giant ladybird.