Dr Rebekka Sontowski

I’m interested in the adaptation of insect herbivores to their host plants.

What attracts herbivores and what makes some plants more susceptible to herbivores?

How do herbivores deal with plant defence compounds?

What is the role of their gut microbiome?

To answer these questions, I use molecular genetic, metabolomic and experimental approaches. I aim to understand the preferences of insect herbivores in order to translate this knowledge into sustainable and environmentally friendly pest control.