Monday, October 21, 2024

Environment & Sustainability

Why do monarch butterflies feed on dried leaves? (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
Environment & SustainabilityPest and Diseases

New ways to control pests

By Denis Crawford

It’s been a while (May 2019) since I wrote about the biochemical arms race being waged between plants and insects, and how some insects co-opt certain plant chemicals for their own purposes. Recent research has uncovered some particularly intriguing adaptations.Continue reading

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Liriomyza flies are about 2mm long and not easily seen (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
Environment & SustainabilityPest and Diseases

Serpentine leafminer has arrived

By Denis Crawford

Serpentine leafminer is an invasive leafminer fly that has spread through many regions of the world and was detected in Australia late last year for the first time.

Serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza huidobrensis) was first detected in Australia in the Sydney basin in October 2020 on field-grown vegetable crops.… Continue reading

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