To investigate whether inactivating the activin or BMP branches of TGF-ß signaling alters the total number of circulating hemocytes in uninfected D. melanogaster or those infected with nematode parasites, we counted hemocytes in larvae carrying loss-of-function mutations in daw or dpp following treatment with water (control) or infection with H. gerrardi. The gene discussed is INHBE; the disease is infection.