White-Eyed Fruit Flies: How Improvements in Gene Editing Could Aid in Pest Management
Researchers are refining methods for applying gene-editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 in species of fruit flies, which could soon lead to useful advances in management of fruit fly pests like the sterile insect technique.
Artificial Intelligence Performs Key Step in Fruit Fly Management
Determining the precise age of mass-reared fruit flies is a critical step in managing them in the wild via the sterile insect technique. Researchers in Mexico have applied machine-learning algorithms that can accurately measure the age of fruit fly pupae to properly time irradiation.
Why Flight Testing is an Important Step in Sterile Insect Technique
Releasing millions of sterile insects to interfere with a wild pest population won't work if irradiating the insects also hinders their flight capacity. A new study shows this may be the case with navel orangeworm moths (Amyelois transitella), and further fine-tuning will be necessary to build a successful sterile insect technique operation to manage the pest.
How Science Wiped Out the Invasive Pink Bollworm in the U.S.
Collaboration and a combination of transgenic cotton and sterile insect releases helped to eradicate the invasive pink bollworm.