Discovering which hormones regulate urine formation in the kidneys of beetles may one day help develop more ecological methods of combating these harmful insects, researchers report.
Up to 25% of global food production is lost annually due to insects, primarily beetles. For the past 500 million years, beetles have successfully spread and adapted to life around the globe and now account for one of every five animal species on Earth. Yet as far back as ancient Egypt, these tough little bugs have invaded granaries and vexed us humans by destroying our crops.
As a result, food production and an abundant use of pesticides now go hand in hand. A large share of these pesticides damage biodiversity, the environment, and human health. Phasing out various pesticides requires new solutions to target and eradicate pests without harming humans or beneficial insects like bees.