Excessive proliferation of proplasmatocytes which show abnormal differentiation into giant plasmato-, lamello- and podocytes.
Larval blood cells show a malignant phenotype. Larval haematopoietic organs are enlarged, an increased number of undifferentiated plasmatocytes are released in the haemolymph, the neoplastic blood cells invade and destroy all larval tissues.
Lethal at the time of puparium formation. Mature larvae appear bloated, as they have 150 times as many free blood cells in their hemolymph as wild-type mature larvae, due to the steady production of immature plasmatocytes in the lymph glands. Most blood cells are immature round cells resembling plasmatocytes. A few blood cells are sickle-shaped. Podocytes are rarely observed and crystal cells are present in reduced numbers. The blood cells can encapsulate and melanise larval tissue. Larval tissues, such as the imaginal discs, fat body and muscles are destroyed by invasion of blood cells.
pupariation lethal larvae appear bloated owing to having 150 times as many free hematocytes as normal; these can encapsulate and melanize larval tissue.