Microbial Fermentation in Insect Guts

Abstract

If biological success is measured either by numbers of individuals or diversity of species, insects are undoubtedly the most successful group of animals in the history of life on earth. There are more species of insects than all other animal species combined (Wilson 1992). This observation is especially remarkable in light of the fact that insects do not colonize marine habitats, a limitation that restricts them to approximately 30{\%} of the planet's surface area.