Cytological, biochemical and bacteriological data of the hemolymph of Vespa orientalis

Abstract

1.1. The hemolymph of Vespa orientalis contains the following types of hemocytes: prohemocytes 6–16 per cent, granular hemocytes 3–10 per cent, oenocytoids 0–10 per cent, spherule cells 0–3 per cent, adipohemocytes 2–8 per cent and plasmatocytes 53–80 per cent. The fat body contains prohemocytes, granular hemocytes and adipohemocytes. Phagocytosis of inoculated bacteria by plasmatocytes was demonstrated.2.2. The hemolymph gelled spontaneously in vitro. Gelation was unsuppressed by rapid elimination of the hemocytes neither by the addition of citrate nor heparin.3.3. Bacillus proteus, Escherichia coli, Coliform bacilli, Staphylococcus auerus and Streptococcus faecalis were isolated from the midgut and fat body. The hemolymph was invariably sterile.4.4. The pH of the hemolymph is below 7·0, the osmolality range between 321–593 mOsmole/kg and the specific gravity is 1022–1028.5.5. The total protein content is 5·82–8·10 g%, uric acid 7·45–42·0 mg% and glucose 212–2020 mg%. Iron levels increased gradually during the development stages from 100 to 568 μg%. Potassium is high at 15–64 m-equiv/l. while sodium is low at 8·3–34·0 m-equiv/l. Alanine is the major amino acid in adults and its concentration is low in the larvae. Palmitic and oleic acids are the main free fatty acids.