Haemopoiesis in Lepidoptera. III. A note on the multiplication of spherule cells and granular haemocytes

Abstract

Blood films from early sixth instar larvae of Euxoa declarata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) stained in hematoxylin – eosin – alcian blue showed unequivocal examples of mitosis in spherule cells. The improved visibility of mitosis and the estimation of the mitotic index from counts of dividing cells per 1000 cells of each type indicated a far greater potential maximum production of spherule cells and granular haemocytes by mitosis than reported previously. Certain other methods of staining showed similar clear examples of spherule cell mitosis.