Effects of Cu, Zn and its mixtures on hemocyte types and counts of Galleria mellonella L.larvae(lepidoptera: pyralidae)

Toxic effects of Zn (30 mg / L) and Cu(10mg / L) applied singly and in mixture were investigated on the total and differential hemocyte counts of Galleria mellonella larvae. Five types of hemocytes were observed in G. mellonella larvae; prohemocytes, granulocytes, plasmatocytes, spherulocytes and eunocytoids. Total and differential hemocyte counts were significantly affected by heavy metals. Total hemocyte count (THC) decreased when larvae exposed to metal for (72 hours). Decreased prohemocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes and eunocytoids whereas plasmatocyte numbers increased. Changes in hemocyte numbers of G. mellonella larvae have shown that it can be used as a good model organism in evaluating environmental pollution levels and it can also lead to immunological studies on other species.