ASPERGILLOSIS IN GERMAN-COCKROACH BLATTELLA-GERMANICA (L.) (BLATTOIDEA, BLATTELLIDAE)

Natural infection of Aspergillus flavus was observed in adults of Blat tella germanica. Though the adult insects exhibited no external sympto ms, they became hypoactive and later died. The dead and experimentally infected insects repeatedly yielded Aspergillus flavus in culture on Czapek's medium. Direct microscopic observation of the tissues of infe cted insects revealed fungal material. The blood films stained with Gi emsa stain showed granulocytes (GRs) engulfing fungal hyphae. A remark able increase in GR and plasmatocyte (PL) counts occurred in different ial haemocyte counts (DHCs) of the infected insects. Two main types of immunological responses of the insect noticed were phagocytosis and e ncapsulation. DHC showed maximum involvement of GRs and PLs in immune mechanism.