Hemocytes are key players in the immune response against pathogens in insects. However, the hemocyte types and their functions in the white-spotted flower chafers, Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Kolbe), are not known. In this study, we used various microscopes, molecular probes, and flow cytometric analyses to characterize the hemocytes in Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis. we identified the professional phagocytes, granulocytes (GRs), which mediate encapsulation and phagocytosis of pathogens. The GRs were immunologically or morphologically activated and phagocytosed potentially hazardous substances in vivo.

• Hyojung Kwon(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University)
• Kyeongrin Bang(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University)
• Jiae Lee(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University)
• Sejung Hwang(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University)
• Saeyoull Cho(Department of Applied Biology, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Environment Friendly Agriculture Center, Kangwon National University)