Phys.Org: UC researchers unlock genetics of agricultural pest
UC biologist Joshua Benoit is looking at biological controls to replace pesticides
Phys.Org highlighted research by the University of Cincinnati to unlock the genetic code of an agricultural pest that causes $2 billion in losses each year in the United States.
UC College of Arts and Sciences associate professor Joshua Benoit worked with an international team to unlock the genetic code of stable flies, a common pest that harasses people and livestock alike.
Benoit and lead author Pia Untalan Olafson of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
“Stable flies are arguably one of the most important pests of livestock in the United States,” Olafson said.
By understanding the genes responsible for stable fly reproduction, researchers hope to design novel biological controls similar to methods that have worked to eradicate other pests.
Featured image at top: UC associate professor Joshua Benoit and his students sequence the genomes of insects to help develop more effective pest controls. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative + Brand
A stable fly. Photo/Geoffrey Attardo/UC Davis
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