Unlocking genome of world’s worst insect pest

International team of researchers is on the brink of a discovery which will facilitate the development of more sustainable ways of controlling the world’s worst agricultural insect pest Helicoptera armigera.

The moth Helicoptera armigera causes to crops globally $5 billion of damage a year and is resistant to nearly every class of chemical and Bt insecticides.

Scientists from University of Melbourne in Australia, CSIRO and the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston expect to sequence the moth’s genome in about four months. Their research will help to develop new, safe and more effective ways of controlling this pest.

Source: http://www.csiro.au