Insect-bryophyte interactions: A little explored territory in the domain of insect-plant interactions

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Abstract

Many plant-feeding insects have evolved as generalists, living and feeding on plants. Insects have existed from the Devonian (410–355 million years ago [mya]) synchronizing with the diversification of woody angiosperms. Sometime between the Devonian and the Carboniferous,utilization of sori of early Filicophytaas food existed concurrently in extinct groups of insects. This could also be the period when a majority of the phloem-feeding Hemiptera evolved. Insect-feeding damage, possibly caused byhemipteroids, has been known in the fossil specimens of Metzgeriothallus sharonae (Marchantiophyta: Metzgeriales) of the Middle Devonian. An extensive volume of publications explains the dynamics of insect–plant interactions, customarily the term ‘plant’ implying angiosperms. However, our knowledge of insects that live and feed on lower plants, such asbryophytes, is limited. This note aims to provide a brief review on the subtlety of interactions between bryophytes and insects, as much as known.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)614-616
Number of pages3
JournalCurrent Science
Volume115
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Aug 2018

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