Using Caterpillars to Teach Students Plant Defense Chemistry

Being sessile, plants have always been overshadowed by the more active members of the animal kingdom, despite their remarkable ability to thrive in diverse and hostile environments. This presents an opportunity for educators to broaden their pupils’ understanding of the natural world. However, the main challenge is to show students within the constraints of a biology course that plants are, in fact, lively organisms that actively perceive and respond to environmental factors including other living things.