Entomologist May Berenbaum explored the fascinating relationship between plants and insects during a Voices of Discovery lecture Wednesday, March 1 in McCrary Theatre. Details...
Berenbaum, chair of the department of entomology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, is internationally known for her work in the field of plant-insect interactions. Her research is focused on the way organisms such as plants and insects influence the evolution of the other.
Berenbaum said plants have developed unique ways to defend themselves as they have evolved. “Since a plant is rooted in the ground, it can’t run from something that’s trying to eat it. Plants produce poisonous compounds to avoid being eaten. Chemistry is how plants have come to defend themselves.”
Some insects select specific plants upon which to feed. A classic case is that of the Monarch butterfly and milkweed plants. While many insects avoid the toxic defense chemicals found in milkweeds, the Monarch butterly feeds exclusively on these plants, having evolved methods to detoxify the poisons.
Many of the chemicals in plants are beneficial to humans, though Berenbaum said even early scientists “realized the fine line between the curative and killing powers of plants.”
One of the earliest plants identified to have healing power in humans was Foxglove. First used in the 18th century, Foxglove is the derivative plant for Digitalis, used today to treat heart ailments.
Once the field of chemistry was developed and refined, Berenbaum said the biological reasons for cures could be explored. “Chemistry took off and it became routine for chemists to purify and identify (a plant’s) biological characteristics.”
Earlier in the day, Berenbaum visited with students in several science classes and met with faculty members.
Berenbaum has received the George Mercer Award and the Founder’s Award from the Entomological Society of America in recognition of her contributions to the field. She has written several books, including “Bugs in the System: Insects and Their Impact on Human Affairs,” and served as co-author of “Ninety-Nine Gnats, Nits and Nibblers.” She is the organizer of the popular “Insect Fear Film Festival,” an annual event at the University of Illinois.
A faculty member at the University of Illinois since 1980, Berenbaum earned a doctorate in ecology and evolutionary biology from Cornell University.
Her presentation was part of the Voices of Discovery science speaker series, sponsored by Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. The series invites noted scholars in science and mathematics to Elon to share their knowledge and experience with students.