Abstract
A small village named Murti is situated along the bank of river Murti in Dooars. The adjacent area of murti is rich in insect biodiversity. Knowledge on the diversity and the role of Orthopteran insects in tea ecosystem of West Bengal including Dooars and Terai is very scanty. Hemocytes are the chief immune cells of insects. The number and shape of hemocytes can change rapidly in response to environmental stress and pollution. Grasshopper (Orthoptera) species were collected from Murti and adjoining areas and from different agricultural fields of North 24 Parganas (West Bengal). Hemolymph was stained by Giemsa, and Neutral Red. Cellular morphology and phagocytosis was examined. Normal cell shape and behavioural activities like phagocytosis, cell-cell fusion was observed in insects collected from Murti, and adjoining areas of Dooars. But in case of insect hemocytes isolated from different agricultural fields of North 24 Parganas and its adjacent sites showed altered shape and different phases of cell death like degeneration of nuclei, formation of membrane blebs and rupture of plasma membrane. Toxic environmental pollutants may be responsible for alteration of hemocytes size and function which may effect on biodiversity. Hemocytes can be used as an effective bio-indicator by which the health of the ecosystem can be screened.
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