Pests
-
Genetic studies of the West African mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles coluzzii show that binding proteins on the insects' legs help them to avoid bed nets that have been treated with mosquito-killing chemicals.
-
Despite a published study saying different, Oxitec and experts argue that a genetically-modified mosquito release program in Brazil was safe after all.
-
A new laser "scarecrow" is helping farmers to protect their sweetcorn crops from marauding birds.
-
ScienceLiving in the soil, roundworms can infect plants via their roots, which is why many plants have evolved to produce an immune response when the worms are detected. Now, scientists have harnessed that response to create an eco-friendly form of crop protection.
-
ScienceCockroaches have been known to develop resistances to individual insecticides for decades, but new research has shown that they’re also able to rapidly develop cross-resistance, even to chemicals that they’ve never been directly exposed to.
-
A recent study indicated that fewer horseflies land on mannequins with stripes painted onto them. The research was inspired by observations that zebras also tend not to be bothered much by flies. A separate study now offers an explanation as to why that's the case.
-
Although the scent of freshly-cut grass may SEEM nice, what you're actually smelling is a distress signal. Thanks to a recent-conducted study, scientists from the University of Delaware now believe that such signals could be used to summon insect-eating birds to valuable crops.
-
Although it's associated with nasty cigarettes, the tobacco plant is also a potential source of vaccines, biofuel and antibiotics. Now, a chemical from the plant is also being used as a bug repellent for crops, which could replace eco-unfriendly insecticides.
-
After more than 200 years, South Georgia is rodent-free. The focus of the world's largest rodent eradication project, the almost uninhabited South Atlantic island has officially been declared free of all rats and mice by Scottish-based charity the South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT).
-
Neonicotinoids are bad news for bees and we've known it for a while. But the situation regarding bee populations and the world's most widely used pesticide has now become so dire that the EU has placed a complete ban on their outdoor use, and it's expected to take effect by the end of the year.
-
Scientists have found that two of the world’s most damaging pests have hybridized, creating a dangerous mega-pest with pesticide-resistant genes. The new hybrid has only been identified in Brazil but the researchers warn that its spread across the globe could be devastating.
-
ScienceScientists from the University of Helsinki and CNRS are working on new ways to produce RNA-based vaccines that target specific pests without damaging the host plants or relying on potentially toxic pesticides to protect food crops.
Load More