Diversity of Pigments in Insects, Their Synthesis and Economic Value for Various Industries

Abstract

Pigments play an essential role in imparting colors to the various organs of invertebrates particularly, insects. Genetic evolution and adaptive pigmentation of invertebrates have been studied which depicted that insect colors respond to the climatic changes. The physical, chemical and structural properties of insect pigments are being studied by researchers for years to elucidate their evolutionary aspects of physiology, metabolism, and economic importance for human welfare. Color development in insects varies within the species of different genera. In this state-of-the-art literature review, we discuss the variety of pigments other than visual ones found in different species of insects. The review also highlights the potential benefits or functions of pigments to insects.

Stinting larvae (Lepidoptera) associated with horticultural crops in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, Panama

“…En los especímenes colectados de H. tessellaris, se observó variaciones en el color de las setas, entre gris claro y blanco. Bankar et al (2021), señalaron que el color de los insectos responde a cambios en el clima y alimento, siendo esto último interesante al considera que este insecto fue encontrado en cinco especies de plantas. Lanuza-Garay (2018), reportó a Acharia hyperoche (Dognin,1914) en la Provincia de Colón, pero la larva observada en Cerro Punta correspondió a A. stimulea, de acuerdo con lo presentado por Santos-Murgas (2019).…”