<p>The microbiota is an indispensable part of an insect’s survival as it assists the insect in several important functions. Insect gut microbiota diversity is comparable to the diversity of insect populations. Vital functions of insect including digestion, absorption, detoxification, behavioural regulation, and immune modulation depend on gut microbiota. Changes in the microbiota is caused by several factors that hamper or modify several functionalities of an insect. Variations in different insect functions are linked to the diversity and load of microorganisms. As insects respond differently to different factors, microbiota study is becoming an emerging field of interest. This review focuses on the factors that influence changes in the microbiota, namely biotic and abiotic factors, temporal variation, changes imposed during mating, parasitisation, with prime importance being given to the lepidopteran microbiota. Because lepidopterans are holometabolous, their associated microbiota is dynamic and varied. Knowing the variables that affect these alterations is essential because it illuminates the subtle yet significant ways in which the insect world is shaped by these hidden microbial players.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>