New hope for trees affected by ash dieback
Originally published on BBC Science & Environment Scientists say there is new hope in the fight against a disease that is devastating ash trees. A study has identified the genes that give trees resistance to ash dieback, which arrived in the UK in 2012 and has now spread to almost every part of the country.
Open Access tools for Open Science
Each year on November 10th, World Science Day for Peace and Development celebrates the significance of science in daily life and the importance of involving the public in scientific developments and debates. This year, the theme for World Science Day for Peace and Development is “Open science, leaving no one behind”. The concept of “Open…
Meet the man behind the headlines: The ‘Stink Bug Man’ Dr Tim Haye
Tim Haye spends a lot of his time behind the lens of a microscope or camera studying and capturing a range of invasive pests – largely unseen to the human eye. Recently Tim has been the focus of attention himself with the Swiss media keen on learning more about one of his ‘bugbears’ – the…
Predicting the spread of invasive spotted lanternfly
The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an emerging insect pest of a number of economically important crop plants. Originating from China, its primary host plant is tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), which is itself considered to be a noxious invasive species in some areas of the United States.
CABI partners with local universities to engage youth on parthenium weed in Pakistan
CABI recently organized a two-day training and planning workshop for its university partners on “Awareness and Management of Parthenium” in Islamabad. The workshop was attended by key stakeholders and post-graduate students of partner universities such as the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi and University of Sargodha.
New Pest Risk Analysis Tool to improve biosecurity in international trade of plant commodities
CABI has launched a new product to help facilitate and improve the biosecurity of plants and plant products being traded around the world that are at risk of invasive pests such as the Colorado beetle – a major threat to potato crops.
CABI engage rural support programme in its efforts to manage invasive parthenium
Invasive alien species are one of the major threats to biodiversity, also having negative impacts on crop production, human, and animal health. Invasive alien plants are creating huge problem in Pakistan affecting natural and semi-natural ecosystems causing considerable cost to the economy and environment. Comprehensive efforts are required to deal with this issue to prevent…
UAV spraying: combating the spread of fall armyworm across China
Fall armyworm (FAW) has continued to spread across China since early January, with the pest being identified in over 600,000 hectares of farmland across 18 provinces. Now, the government and farmers are looking for solutions to tackling this invasive species. Fall armyworm in an incredibly destructive pest species native to the tropics and sub-tropics of…
A Plague of Cactus
By Susan Moran. Reblogged from bioGraphic. Across Kenya’s wildlife-rich Laikipia Plateau, a thorny enemy is advancing. But a tiny sap-sucking insect may help save the region’s animals and people. Before the sun has peeked above the horizon, Philip Nangoo Larpei, a Maasai elder in his 60s or 70s (he hasn’t kept track), is already outside checking…
Shedding light on the biodiversity impacts of the tomato leafminer
The ecological effects of a widespread crop pest The tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta is one of the most widespread and impactful invasive crop pests in the world. First reported in Peru in 1914, the tomato leafminer is now recorded throughout South America, Africa and Europe and is estimated to infest 60% of all cultivated tomatoes worldwide. Recent studies…