Morphological characterization of hemocyte types in some species belonging to Tettigoniidae and Pamphagidae (Insecta: Orthoptera)

Abstract

In the present study, the species Eupholidoptera smyrnensis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1882) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae),Decticus verrucivorus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), and Glyphotmethis spp. (Orthoptera: Pamphagidae) were studiedin order to determine hemocyte types. To that end, hemolymph smear preparations were stained using Wright’s stain. According tolight microscopic examinations, five hemocyte types, prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes, and oenocytoids, weredetermined in each species. Prohemocytes are basic and the smallest cell type in the hemolymph. Plasmatocytes show polymorphismand they may have pseudopodia. Granulocytes are characterized by granules in their cytoplasm. Spherulocytes typically includespherical vacuoles. Oenocytoids are the largest cells among hemocyte types. These hemocyte types have similar characteristics in allexamined species. Hemocyte measurements were also made. According to these measurements, E. smyrnensis hemocytes were smallerthan those of Decticus verrucivorus and Glyphotmethis spp. Although included in different families, the two closest species in terms ofhemocyte size were D. verrucivorus and Glyphotmethis spp.