NANFA-- rotenone as a natural insecticide

IndyEsox_at_aol.com
Tue, 10 Oct 2000 14:10:13 EDT

My friend Liz who asked me the original question about rotenone has a
graduate degree in the studies of insects and has collected them in the rain
forest. She is wrapping up a book she is writing, a field guide to bees.
It will be published by the Illinois Natural History Survey, the same place
that Dr.Larry Page works and published his "Guide to Darters." She speaks
with some authority.

Jay DeLong said:

> I don't know how it kills terrestrial insects when used as a pesticide, but
> I wonder if the insecticide properties is the benefit the plant receives
> from having such a toxic compound in its bark.

Liz replied to me:

Tell them it probably does - many plants in the tropics are absolutely
nasty with poisons because there are so many insects munching down
there! If not a defense against insects per se, then a general defense
against herbivory.... it's not fun being a helpless salad in the
rainforest....

Liz

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