Why scientists released billions of sterile moths across American cotton fields to defeat one of agriculture's most destructive pests
- Scientists released billions of sterile moths across American cotton fields/Image: AI GeneratedFor much of the twentieth century, the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) was one of the greatest threats to cotton farming in North America.
- The tiny insect caused billions of dollars in crop losses by burrowing into cotton bolls, where its larvae fed on seeds and fibres while remaining largely protected from pesticides.
- Farmers often had little choice but to spray their fields repeatedly, yet the pest continued to spread and develop resistance to many chemical controls.
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- Scientists released billions of sterile moths across American cotton fields/Image: AI GeneratedFor much of the twentieth century, the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) was one of the greatest threats to cotton farming in North America.
- The tiny insect caused billions of dollars in crop losses by burrowing into cotton bolls, where its larvae fed on seeds and fibres while remaining largely protected from pesticides.
- Farmers often had little choice but to spray their fields repeatedly, yet the pest continued to spread and develop resistance to many chemical controls.
Sources: Times of India