DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2015.v03i03.013

Pages: 311-314

Total Hemocyte Count (T.H.C.) of 5th instar larvae of Muga Silkworm Antheraea assama Ww reared at four different sericulture farms situated at different altitudes, viz, Khanapara State Sericulture Farm, Assam, altitude 55.5m above sea level (ASL); Nongpoh (Central Silk Board farm), Meghalaya, altitude 464m ASL; Tura (Central Silk Board farm), West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, 657m ASL; and Kalimpong (Central Silk Board farm), West Bengal, altitude 1247m ASL, were calculated and compared to investigate the effect of altitude on the number of hemocytes per mm3 of larval hemolymph. The investigation showed that larval T.H.C.s were highest at lower altitudinal broods i.e. at Khanapara (55.5m ASL) whereas their numbers gradually declined in broods reared in higher altitudes, lowest T.H.C.s being recorded at Kalimpong (1247m ASL).