Scientists are genetically engineering moths to self-destruct. To this end let us discuss an invasive species, the diamondback moth that was once a minor nuisance. It became an agricultural headache in the late 1940s as chemical pesticide use exploded. The moth, the first crop pest to evolve resistance to DDT, multiplied as feebler competitors died off. Scientists pieced together a gene that makes female moths dependent on an antibiotic for survival. The females die before reaching reproductive age. Just like those mosquitos modified for self-destruction down South, these moths will face a lot of scientific barriers before gaining acceptance in the agriculture world.
