Abstract
The fat body lobes of Galleria mellonella are surrounded by basement membrane — a fine granular layer of connective tissue. This membrane has an affinity for ruthenium red. The results obtained after treatment of the fat body with neuraminidase, hyaluronidase, phospholipase C and proteolytic enzymes suggest that glycoproteins and phospholipoproteins are constituents of this basement membrane. The basement membrane also has the ability to bind concanavalin A-peroxidase, which is associated with the presence of mannoside residues.