Introduction to Insect Digestion

Contents include:

1) Overview on Insect diversity and digestion: ecological niches, mouthparts and food consumption;

2) Overview on Insect nutrition: basic requirements during insect development;

3) General model of the insect digestive system: description of compartments and main functions;

4) Ultrastructure of insect digestive system: main types of cells and their functions;

5) Insect digestive enzymes: types and compartimentalization;

6) Specific characteristics of insects (pH, morphology, changes during development, detoxification, symbiosis).