A New Species of Parasitic Wasp Found to be an Effective Natural Pest Control of Soybean Crops
A recent study reveals a new species of parasitic wasp that has the potential to control a major soybean pest. The wasp, dubbed “Liopteromerus xanthopus,” was discovered by a team of researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, led by entomologist May Berenbaum.
The new species of parasitic wasp is an important discovery for soybean farmers, who have been struggling with an infestation of the soybean aphid for years. The Liopteromerus xanthopus wasp lays its eggs inside the aphid, which then hatch and eat the aphid from the inside out. This natural method of pest control could be a huge boon to soybean farmers, who have been struggling to combat the soybean aphid with chemical pesticides.
source: Phys.org