Peas With Built-In Weevil Resistance
...cally modified peas are 99.5 per cent resistant to weevil attack - no insecticide required," says Dr TJ Hig...t blocks the normal digestion of seed contents by weevil larvae, so they don't grow and develop into adults," Dr Higgins says. "Weevils can reduce yields...Natural repellant in Spanish cedar leaves could help tropical forests
...rs, as well as the insectexamined in this study, a weevil known as Exopthalus jekelianus. Ifplantation-raised timber production does not succeed already endangered primaryforests are threatened even further, the scientists note. "The four compounds we identified are new to science," said Philip C. Stevenson...Striking back at biological invaders
...ported and released to subduethe invader, like the weevil brought in to take on the tumbleweed in the westernUnited States. A third news story reports on the increasing demand forbiocontrol and why some scientists are worried that these new recruits will alsorun wild and compound the existing problem. Scie...Chemical discovered that causes plant tumors
...sect pests of peas. In order to reproduce, the pea weevil needs to lay its eggs on a pea pod. But the pea pl... the egg is laid, the pea plant detects in the pea weevil a type of chemical, which the Oregon researchers identified and are calling bruchins, in reference t......ber of "exceptions" keeps growing. The latest is a weevil intended to control a non-native thistle. New research shows that the weevil prefers a native thistle and can reduce its seed set by 98%. "Ecological risk was severely underest......anean coasts, attracts its specialised pollinating weevil in a very surprising way. In this palm, flowers produce no odour and are not visually distinguishable at long distance. However, during the flowering season, the palm's leaves produce a specific fragrance, with typical floral notes. The researchers ......in the field. For instance, a European seed-eating weevil was predicted to prefer the invasive Canada thistle but ended up preferring the native Tracy's thistle in Colorado. There are few, if any, options for addressing biocontrol gone amok. "'Recall' of problematic species from ecosystems where they are da...