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Tag: John Roche

The State of Insect Resistance to Transgenic Bt Crops

Crops engineered to produce insecticidal proteins from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have had many noteworthy successes in the past 25 years, but resistance to Bt crops has evolved in numerous instances, as well. A new research review examines global patterns of resistance to Bt crops and outlines strategies for maximizing sustainability of this important tool for pest management.

green caterpillar with dark stripes along its length crawls vertically on an ear of corn (maize) near an larval exit hole

Fall Armyworm Study Shows Maize, Sorghum as Preferred Host Plants

Studies have shown host plants for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) potentially numbering in the hundreds, but a group of researchers suggests differentiating between plants that the insect prefers for its full life cycle versus those that are more likely to be secondary food sources.

warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile)

New Analysis Refines Taxonomy of Dermestid Beetles

A new, robust molecular and morphological analysis of beetles in the family Dermestidae improves understanding of the group's evolutionary relationships—valuable knowledge for pest management, trade regulations, and forensic entomology.