Structure and function of the bacterial community associated with the mediterranean fruit fly

Insects are indisputably the dominant multicellular organisms in terrestrial habitats. As such they maintain intricate and complex interactions with the other organisms in their habitat. Some of these interactions, such as those between insects and plants, or between insects and vertebrates, have been extensively studied. On the other hand, the associations between insects and microorganisms, while pervasive and of paramount ecological importance, are relatively poorly understood. Indeed, the interactions between microorganisms and insects can be seen as a vast, unexplored region, briefly glimpsed, waiting to be charted.