Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Japanese Farmers Just Got a New Pesticide: The Flightless Ladybug

posted by azrael on Thursday August 14 2014, @07:15PM   Printer-friendly
from the house-is-on-fire dept.

AnonTechie writes:

Ladybugs (Coccinellidae) can do the work that nasty chemicals used to. Researchers in Japan have discovered a way to selectively breed flightless ladybugs to be used as a "biopesticide" - a natural alternative to chemical pesticides.

Ladybugs have long been considered natural pest-control for gardens and crops, but their ability to fly away encouraged many agriculturalists to instead rely on chemical pesticides that are harmful to the environment. After several generations of being exposed to chemicals, many pests have also been known to develop pesticide resistance.

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Japanese Farmers Just Got a New Pesticide: The Flightless Ladybug | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 15 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 2) by SlimmPickens on Thursday August 14 2014, @10:53PM

    by SlimmPickens (1056) on Thursday August 14 2014, @10:53PM (#81502)

    Why is it a problem?

    Apologies, I didn't mean that you shouldn't buy Ladybugs, I meant more the article ones that can't fly and are condemned to either starving or being eaten (which I'm sure is unpleasant). I don't consider it a major problem but nor do I consider it best practice.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   2