Releasing genetically engineered fruit flies into the wild could be a cheap, effective and environmentally friendly way to control pests according to new research from scientists at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Oxitec Ltd.
According to researchers, the Mediterranean fruit fly, or medfly, is a serious agricultural pest that causes extensive damage to crops. The fly infests more than 300 types of cultivated and wild fruits, vegetables and nuts. Currently the pest is controlled through the use of insecticides, traps, biological control and releasing sterilized insects.