At the Size Limit - Effects of Miniaturization in Insects

1. Introduction.- 2. Methods of collecting and studying microinsects.- 3. Structure of the principal groups of microinsects.- 3.1. The smallest free-living insects (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae, Corylophidae).- 3.2. The smallest parasitoid insects (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae, Trichogrammatidae; Strepsiptera).- 3.3. Hemimetabolous microinsects (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae; Thysanoptera: Thripidae).- 4. Peculiar miniature-related structural features of different organ systems.- 5. Changes in relative size of organs that accompany decrease in body size.- 6. Effects of miniaturization on the different stages of the life cycle.- 7. Analysis of peculiar miniaturization-related structural features in different groups of animals.- 8. Effects of miniaturization on the physiology and behaviour of insects.- 9. Limiting factors of decrease in body size.- 10. The consequences of miniaturization for insect ecology and evolution.- 11. Conclusions.- 12. References.- 13. Appendix (Tables of homology between morphological terms used in descriptions of morphology in insects of different orders).