Researchers discover potential new weapon againsi African crop pests

摘要

Ateam of scientists has made a novel discovery that could provide a new strategy for controlling armyworms and other insect crop pests around the globe. Crop pests such as the African army worm are a major threat to global food security, especially inAfrica and other parts of the developing world where chemical pesticides are too expensive for most resource-poor farmers. The African Armyworm is a voracious caterpillar pest which feeds on cereal crops, including staples such as maize, wheat, millet and rice, at densities of up to 50,000 caterpillars per hectare - sometimes resulting in total crop failure.