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Fruit Fly Tests in Greece Target Invasive Species Threat
The EU-funded REACT project uses sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies in Naousa to reduce invasive fruit pests threatening crops, with initial releases showing measurable population declines.
- Scientists released thousands of sterile male Mediterranean fruit flies in a persimmon orchard in northern Greece as part of an experiment to reduce invasive species impact.
- This trial arose to counter invasive fruit fly threats worsened by climate change, aiming to locally eliminate Mediterranean fruit flies and apply methods to oriental and peach fruit flies.
- The sterile males, fed a bacterial supplement at the University of Patras, become more active and competitive, mating with wild females but producing no offspring, thus reducing pest populations.
- Marc F. Schetelig, the project coordinator, reported that early results are promising, with the sterile insect releases effectively decreasing the pest numbers in the area, and noted that strong community backing helps minimize reliance on intensive pesticide application.
- The EU-funded, four-year REACT project, involving 12 countries and a €6.65 million budget, plans ongoing monitoring and serves as a European model to manage invasive fruit flies harming key exports like Greek peaches.
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Fruit fly tests in Greece target invasive species threat
In a small persimmon orchard in northern Greece, scientists carefully open paper bags to release thousands of flies, in an experiment aimed at blunting the destructive impact of invasive new species.
In a khaki orchard in Naoussa, in northern Greece, scientists carefully open paper bags. Thousands of flies fly immediately above the plates. ...
·Brussels, Belgium
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Total News Sources25
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution47% Center
Bias Distribution
- 47% of the sources are Center
47% Center
L 33%
C 47%
R 20%
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