Mass spectrometry imaging: An emerging technology for the analysis of metabolites in insects

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) can visualize the composition, abundance, and spatial distribution of molecules in tissues or cells, which has been widely used in the research of life science. Insects, especially the agricultural pests, have received a great deal of interests from the scientists in biodiversity and food security. This review introduces the major characteristics of MSI, summarizes its application to the investigation of insect endogenous metabolites, exogenous metabolites, and the spatiotemporal changes of metabolites between insects and plants, and discusses its shortfalls and perspectives. The significance of these concerns is beneficial for future insect research such as physiology and metabolism. Mass spectrometry imaging for the analysis of metabolites in insects Research Highlights Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an emerging technology applied into insect research fields to illuminate the spatiotemporal changes of metabolites. MSI could be further optimized and expand its application range of insect physiology and metabolism research.