Insect-Fungal co-evolution

Insect-fungal co-evolution refers to the long-term biological relationship where certain insects and fungi influence each other's evolution. Fungi often develop ways to benefit insects, such as providing nutrition or protection, while insects evolve behaviors or adaptations to cultivate, spread, or defend against fungi. A typical example is leafcutter ants that farm fungus for food, or beetles that carry beneficial fungi. This mutual relationship drives both to become more specialized over time, resulting in intricate dependencies that shape their survival and ecological roles in their environments.