Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012, (India).
*Present address: Department of Entomology, 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Avenue, University of Minnesota, St Paul, Minnesota-55108, USA.
Cellular defense mechanism against NPV onslaught in the older larvae of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) was studied in terms of total hemocyte counts (THC) and differential haemocyte counts (DHC). There was a general decline in THC in response to NPV in both the young and old larvae. Nevertheless, the decrease was greater in younger larvae. DHC did not show any significant role by granulocytes and plasmatocytes (immunocytes) in the defense mechanism operating in the older insects.
