Insects were among the earliest terrestrial herbivores and acted as major selection agents on plants. Plants evolved chemical defenses against this herbivory and the insects, in turn, evolved mechanisms to deal with plant toxins. Many insects make use of these toxins to protect themselves from their predators. Such insects often advertise their toxicity using warning colors. This successful evolutionary pattern has also been used by mimics. Over time, this has led to complex groups of coevolved species. Conversely, some interactions between plants and insects, like pollination, are beneficial to both organisms. Coevolution has led to the development of very specific mutualisms in such systems. COUNT 10
QSN1 What type of defense did plants adaptively evolve in response to insects? ANS1 chemical QSN2 What is the term for a plant-eating insect? ANS2 herbivores QSN3 What do many insects adaptively utilize in self-defense from predators? ANS3 plant toxins QSN4 How is toxicity sometimes visibly displayed by insects as a warning? ANS4 colors QSN5 What is an example of a mutually beneficial process indicating the coevolution of plants and insects? ANS5 pollination QSN6 Insects are considered terrestrial what? ANS6 herbivores QSN7 What were insects the major selection agents of? ANS7 plants QSN8 What did plants eventually form against insects? ANS8 chemical defenses QSN9 Insects formed mechanisms to shield against what? ANS9 plant toxins QSN10 Insects show how toxic they are with what kind of colors? ANS10 warning colors