Crustacean hemocytes have been characterized on the basis of cell size and nature of cytoplasmic granules. Based on light microscopic morphological analysis and cytochemistry, investigators variously named the hemocyte types (agranular, small-granule, large granule, undifferentiated, hyaline cells, non-explosive, explosive granulocytes, etc.). In his study of the isopod Armadillidium vulgare Faso adopted the terminology of Benjamin and James and referred to the hemocytes as hyaline cells, semi-granulocytes and granulocytes.

In the present investigation we have studied the hemocytes of two isopods, Oniscus asellus and Armadillidium nasatum, using transmission electron microscopy. Hemolymph was collected by penetrating the posterior dorsal exoskeleton of 20 animals of each genus with a microcapillary pipette and drawing 3-5μL per isopod. The samples were processed following a standard technique. Thin sections were collected on 300 mesh copper grids, counterstained with 2% aqueous uranyl acetate and lead citrate, and viewed with a JEOL 1010 electron microscope.