ABSTRACT
Lignocellulosic biomass is a most profuse and bio-renewable material on the planet earth which can be converted into biofuels, thereby reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Lignocellulose is the main element of plant cell walls and constitutes a composite network of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. It is undigestible by most animals. But some specific insect species can digest lignocellulose as they have developed unique lignocel-lulolytic systems and strategies to cope with this biomass. A diverse array of symbiotic microorganisms is known to reside inside the insect digestive tract that facilitates the digestion of lignocellulose. The diverse symbiotic microorganisms and various endogenous enzymes present inside the gut of lignocellulose feeding insects can be exploited as the valuable source of lignocellulases that can ameliorate the conversion of plant waste or wood biomass to valuable biofuels.
