Study of free haemocytes of red palm weevil. Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (oliver)‎ (coleoptera : curculionidae)‎ of Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Haemolymph drops were oozed out of the weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliv.) and used for the identification and classification of their free haemocytes.

Haemocytes have also been maintained in vitro in Wheaton Culture Vessels for short-term cultures to facilitate observations on their live shapes and specific characteristics.

Six different types of haemocytes were identified: prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes, granular haemocytes, cystocytes, oenocytoids and adipohaemocytes.

The prohaemocytes are juvenile forms; plasmatocytes, granular haemocytes, cystocytes, oenocytoids and adipohaemocytes are metabolites transporting forms, while the plasmatocytes are functionallythe immunocytesof the weevil