Abstract:  【Aim】 This study aims to identify the types of hemocytes, to determine their proportions in the hemolymph of larvae of the ghost moth, Thitarodes xiaojinensis, and to examine the cellular immune functions of hemocytes. 【Methods】 The morphology of hemocytes of T. xiaojinensis larvae was observed under optical phase contrast microscopy and compared with the characteristic morphology of various hemocytes of lepidopteran insects. The cellular immune responses of hemocytes in the 7th instar larvae of T. xiaojinensis were examined after stimulating them with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Congo Red stained DEAE-Sephadex A-25. 【Results】 The hemocytes of T. xiaojinensis larvae are composed of granular hemocytes, plasmatocytes, spherule cells and oenocytoids, accounting for 62.5%, 26.6%, 10.1% and 0.8%, respectively. The typical prohemocytes were not observed. The results of stimulation with S. cerevisiae showed that the hemocytes of T. xiaojinensis larvae could react with phagocytosis and nodulation. The results of stimulation with Congo Red stained DEAE-Sephadex A-25 showed that the hemocytes in T. xiaojinensis larvae had the ability of encapsulation. 【Conclusion】 The composition and morphology of hemocytes of T. xiaojinensis larvae are the same as those of other lepidopteran insects, and the granular hemocytes have the highest proportion. Hemocytes in T. xiaojinensis larvae are sensitive to the stimulation of S. cerevisiae and Congo Red stained DEAE-Sephadex A-25. The former causes phagocytosis and nodulation, while the latter causes encapsulation. The function of cellular immunity in T. xiaojinensis is typical.

Key words: Thitarodes xiaojinensis, hemocytes, cellular immunity, phagocytosis, nodulation, encapsulation