Insects' essential role in understanding and broadening animal medication

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2024.02.003
• Publication Date: 2024-03-04T13:13:53Z
• Authors: Silvio Erler; Sheena C. Cotter; Dalial Freitak; Hauke Koch; Evan C. Palmer-Young; Jacobus C. de Roode; Angela M. Smilanich; H. Michael G. Lat...

Like humans, animals use plants and other materials as medication against parasites. Recent decades have shown that the study of insects can greatly advance our understanding behaviors. The ease rearing under laboratory conditions has enabled controlled experiments to test critical hypotheses, while their spectrum reproductive strategies living arrangements – ranging from solitary eusocial communities revealed behaviors evolve maximize inclusive fitness through both direct indirect benefits. Studying also demonstrated in some cases act modulation host's innate immune system microbiome. We highlight outstanding questions, focusing on costs benefits context host fitness.