“…The main defences of insects against such parasites are thought to be lectins, the peritrophic matrix, lysis, and melanisation and encapsulation above the basal lamina of the gut (reviewed in Kaslow & Welburn (1996)). Recent work, however, suggests that interactions between gut parasites and the invertebrate immune system may be more complex than previously suspected (Kaaya, Flyg & Boman, 1987;Richman, et al, 1997;Lowenberger, et al, 1999;Boulanger, et al, 2001;Hao, et al, 2001;Boulanger, et al, 2002). Invertebrates possess an innate immune system, which has been the focus of much recent study (for reviews, see Hoffmann, Reichhart & Hetru (1996) ;Hoffmann & Reichhart, (1997) ;Hoffmann, et al (1999)).…”