Is the surface of endoparasitic wasp eggs and larvae covered by a limited coagulation reaction?

Evidence is presented for the existence of a Venturia homologue of hemomuci n, a surface mucin that was recently described in Drosophila. Venturia hemo mucin is part of the mucinous layer on the egg and larval surface of the pa rasitoid. Venturia hemomucin forms a complex with lipophorin and other host hemolymph components, that is similar to a hemomucin-lipophorin complex wh ich is part of the coagulation reaction. The possible formation of a specif ic layer against the host defence system is discussed for eggs and larvae t hat develop inside another insect. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.