Insects, Plants, Worms, Microbes: Who Eats Who?

In agro-ecosystems, a true feast unfolds before our eyes... often without us noticing! Plants, pest insects, soil worms, and microorganisms are linked by complex food relationships known as trophic interactions. Who eats whom? Plants produce matter using light, but they are quickly coveted by greedy insects. These insects, in turn, become prey for predatory worms and parasitoids. This network of exchanges, both visible and invisible, is shaped by different types of microbes. Understanding and harnessing these interactions means better protecting plants, limiting pests, and promoting sustainable balances. An invitation to explore a world where every organism, from the largest to the most microscopic, has its place... at the table!

The research of the UMR "Diversity, Genomes and Microorganism-Insect Interactions" (DGIMI) is dedicated to studying the mechanisms of interactions between crop pest insects, their entourage of pathogens and parasites, and their host plants. Its supervising bodies are INRAE and the University of Montpellier.

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