Insect egg morphology: evolution, development, and ecology

The insect egg can be viewed through many lenses: it is the single-celled developmental stage, a resource investment in the next generation, an unusually large and complex cell type, and the protective vessel for embryonic development. In this review, I describe the morphological diversity of insect eggs and then identify recent advances in understanding the patterns of egg evolution, the cellular mechanisms underlying egg development, and notable aspects of egg ecology. I also suggest areas for particularly promising future research on insect egg morphology; these topics touch upon diverse areas such as tissue morphogenesis, life history evolution, organismal scaling, cellular secretion, and oviposition ecology.

Automated summary

This review explores the morphological diversity of insect eggs and discusses recent advances in understanding the patterns of egg evolution, cellular mechanisms underlying egg development, and notable aspects of egg ecology. It also suggests promising areas for future research on insect egg morphology, involving topics such as tissue morphogenesis, life history evolution, organismal scaling, cellular secretion, and oviposition ecology.