Sainsburys scientists save crops by turning moths gay
April 14, 2010
Scientists have discovered an innovative, if not strange, new way to save millions of pounds for crop farmers each year. By turning moths gay, researchers have discovered that harvesting eating worms can be avoided saving millions in ruined crops each harvest.
Codling Moths, which lay larvae on pear and apple trees, produce a worm from larvae which damages the crops, sometimes ruining entire harvests by eating their way through the fresh fruit. Before this discovery, farmers were forced to use pesticides or risk losing their crops completely.
The pesticides, according to researchers, would also kill-off other, harmless breeds of insects and further disrupt the food chain on the crops. So, scientists in Sainsburys began developing an alternative method to stop Codling Moths from reproducing and destroying farmers’ crops.
The researchers found that by coating the larvae with female pheromones, typically used to attract males for mating, caused males to become attracted to other males. The result leaves the females unfertilised, thus halting reproduction on the crops.
A spokesman for Sainsburys said that, if left uncontrolled, Codling Moths can destroy an entire crop. He added that this new technique will allow the breeding cycle to be disrupted as males become attracted to other males. The result is a dramatic reduction in the number of eggs laid each year.
Alan Stubbs, the chairman of Buglife, a conservation charity, declared his approval of the method, saying that techniques which protect crops but do not harm other insects are the best option for pest control.
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