Effects of erythrosin B on hemocytes of the American cockroach [Periplaneta americana]

Changes in levels of hemocytes occurred in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.) (Orthoptera: Blattidae), treated with the xanthene dye erythrosin B. Light-exposed, dye-injected roaches showed diminishing numbers of hemocyts at dosages from 0.068 and 0.244 mg of dye/g of body weight, resulting in reductions of nearly 11 and 40%, respectively; at an intermediate dosage, the reduction was ca. 26%. Light-exposed, dye-fed roaches also tended to have fewer hemocytes than untreated controls. Roaches held in darkness and either dye-fed or dye-injected tended to have higher levels of hemocytes in all cases except at the highest injected dose of 0.244 mg; at this dose there was a significant reduction of nearly 25%.