The innate immune system in insects is composed of a large variety of specific and non‐
specific responses that are activated in response to the presence of foreign agents. One …

▪ Abstract Evolutionary ecology seeks to understand the selective reasons for the design
features of the immune defense, especially with respect to parasitism. The molecular …

Recent interest has focused on immune response in an evolutionary context, with particular
attention to disease resistance as a life-history trait, subject to trade-offs against other traits …

There is growing evidence that insects in high‐density populations invest relatively more in
pathogen resistance than those in low‐density populations (ie density‐dependent …

We review recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of insect immune
defence, but do so in a framework defined by the ecological and evolutionary forces that …

▪ Abstract Baculoviruses occur widely among Lepidoptera, and in some species of forest and
agricultural insects, they cause epizootics in outbreak populations. Here we review recent …

If there are costs involved with the maintenance of pathogen resistance, then higher
investment in this trait is expected when the risk of pathogenesis is high. One situation in …

Sociality can be associated with significant costs due to the increased risk of disease
transmission. However, in some organisms the costs may be offset by benefits due to …

The extraordinary diversity and ecological success of the social insects has been attributed
to their ability to cope with the rich and often infectious microbial community inhabiting their …

Summary 1 In insects, cuticular melanization and immune function are strongly dependent
on the quantity of dietary protein ingested. However, relatively little is known about the role …