The gut microbiota serves as a critical “organ” in the life cycle of animals, particularly in the intricate interplay between herbivorous pests and plants. This review summarizes the pivotal functions of the gut microbiota in mediating the insect–plant interactions, encompassing their influence on host insects, modulation of plant physiology, and regulation of the third trophic level species within the ecological network. Given these significant functions, it is plausible to harness these interactions and their underlying mechanisms to develop novel eco-friendly pest control strategies. In this context, we also outline some emerging pest control methods based on the intestinal microbiota or bacteria-mediated interactions, such as symbiont-mediated RNAi and paratransgenesis, albeit these are still in their nascent stages and confront numerous challenges. Overall, both opportunities and challenges coexist in the exploration of the intestinal microbiota-mediated interactions between insect pests and plants, which will not only enrich the fundamental knowledge of plant–insect interactions but also facilitate the development of sustainable pest control strategies.

肠道微生物群是动物生命周期中的关键“器官”，特别是在草食性害虫和植物之间复杂的相互作用中。这篇综述总结了肠道微生物群在介导昆虫与植物相互作用中的关键功能，包括它们对宿主昆虫的影响、植物生理学的调节以及生态网络内第三营养级物种的调节。鉴于这些重要功能，利用这些相互作用及其潜在机制来开发新型生态友好型害虫防治策略是合理的。在此背景下，我们还概述了一些基于肠道微生物群或细菌介导的相互作用的新兴害虫控制方法，例如共生体介导的 RNAi 和副转基因，尽管这些方法仍处于初级阶段并面临许多挑战。总体而言，探索肠道微生物介导的害虫与植物之间的相互作用，机遇与挑战并存，这不仅丰富了植物与昆虫相互作用的基础知识，而且有利于可持续害虫防治策略的制定。