'Biblical' moth influx threatens to devastate crops

[cronus]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36516619

'Biblical' moth influx threatens to devastate crops

Scientists have learned that cabbage and cauliflower crops could potentially be "devastated" by a species of moth arriving from continental Europe.
BBC News understands that tens of millions of diamondback moths are thought to have come to the UK in the past week.
This is 100 times the number that arrive in the entire year.

Researchers describe the species as a "super pest" because it is thought to be resistant to several insecticides.
An alert has been issued by researchers at the Rothamsted Research in Harpenden in Hertfordshire.

The Twitter feed @migrantmothUK reported a two mile cloud of moths on Saturday night near Leominster. One subscriber to the feed reported that it was like "driving through rain".
Steve Nash, who administers the feed, said much worse was yet to come.

"Once the progeny of this influx arrives in mid-July, numbers could be biblical," he said.
Dr Steve Foster, who works at Rothamsted Research described how they devastate crops.

"There are swarms of them, a bit like plagues of locusts - there are so many of them that they seem like a brown cloud."
Dr Foster and his colleagues learned of the infestation on Friday. They will study the moths to see if they can identify an insecticide that can be used against them as a matter of urgency.

(continued, why we need the Brexit....)

[Scot Dutchy]

Never seen of heard of them here. Must be another Brexit myth.

[pErvinalia]

Muslamic terrorist moths.

[JimC]

This will tilt the vote - Brexit it is...

[Scot Dutchy]

This will tilt the vote - Brexit it is...

Well they love their myths.

[cronus]

Cabbage and cauliflower have hardly been a favourite on the dinner plate for sometime. Not sure anyone will grieve their passing. It's like when that harsh autumn wilted all the Brussels. No one really cared except the people who grew the Brussels and relied on them for a living.

[rainbow]

Cabbage and cauliflower have hardly been a favourite on the dinner plate for sometime. Not sure anyone will grieve their passing. It's like when that harsh autumn wilted all the Brussels. No one really cared except the people who grew the Brussels and relied on them for a living.

I still think it's worth a minor anxiety attack.

Pass the Xanax.

[Scot Dutchy]

Cabbage and cauliflower have hardly been a favourite on the dinner plate for sometime. Not sure anyone will grieve their passing. It's like when that harsh autumn wilted all the Brussels. No one really cared except the people who grew the Brussels and relied on them for a living.

Well maybe in your neck of the woods. Cabbage and cauliflower are still popular and in winter time sprouts (what Brussels has to with them) are greatly enjoyed. They should not be eaten until a frost has past over them.

[JimC]

Cabbage and cauliflower have hardly been a favourite on the dinner plate for sometime. Not sure anyone will grieve their passing. It's like when that harsh autumn wilted all the Brussels. No one really cared except the people who grew the Brussels and relied on them for a living.

Well maybe in your neck of the woods. Cabbage and cauliflower are still popular and in winter time sprouts (what Brussels has to with them) are greatly enjoyed. They should not be eaten until a frost has past over them.

I love cauliflower, especially in a cheese sauce...

[Scot Dutchy]

Cabbage and cauliflower have hardly been a favourite on the dinner plate for sometime. Not sure anyone will grieve their passing. It's like when that harsh autumn wilted all the Brussels. No one really cared except the people who grew the Brussels and relied on them for a living.

Well maybe in your neck of the woods. Cabbage and cauliflower are still popular and in winter time sprouts (what Brussels has to with them) are greatly enjoyed. They should not be eaten until a frost has past over them.

I love cauliflower, especially in a cheese sauce...

Only winter cauli's Jim. The summer ones are so sweet. We get great organic ones in our supermarket from a local grower.

[rainbow]

I love cauliflower, especially in a cheese sauce...

Bacon in cheese sauce is better and doesn't taste of dead moths.

[Scot Dutchy]

I love cauliflower, especially in a cheese sauce...

Bacon in cheese sauce is better and doesn't taste of dead moths.

Give me guts ache.

[rainbow]

I love cauliflower, especially in a cheese sauce...

Bacon in cheese sauce is better and doesn't taste of dead moths.

Give me guts ache.

Reported.

I always suspected you weren't a true Rationaliac.

[Scot Dutchy]

I am on a 1000 calorie diet and I want to eat more than one meal a day.

[pErvinalia]

Must be a coeliac..