May Berenbaum

May Roberta Berenbaum (born July 22, 1953) is an American entomologist whose research focuses on the chemical interactions between herbivorous insects and their host plants, and the implications of these interactions on the organization of natural communities and the evolution of species. She is particularly interested in nectar, plant phytochemicals, honey and bees, and her research has important implications for beekeeping.

May Berenbaum and Barack Obama in 2014

Quotes

• I don't expect people to become entomologists or even necessarily to love bugs, but at least to think before reflexively stepping on them. They are just capable of the most amazing things, and many of the things that they do we couldn't survive on this planet without them doing.
  • Interview: May Berenbaum (June 2007)

• The best thing people can do is to stop assuming that insects don’t belong on this planet and that it’s our job to destroy them. Insects have lived on Earth far longer than humans have, in many more different places, and they’ve found at least a million different ways to make a living here—we’re living on their planet, not the other way around. My hope is not that everyone will become an entomologist but that more people will appreciate insects for their amazing diversity and adaptability.
• Scientific knowledge helps people to understand and appreciate the world and all of its complexities; it’s the best insurance against irrational fear.
  • The value of the little guy, an interview with Tyler Prize-winning entomologist May Berenbaum (April 6, 2011)