Researchers report that mortality and developmental time of the agricultural pest Trichoplusia ni increased when reared on artificial diets containing antibiotics or hormones at concentrations found in surface waters, and mortality also increased when T. ni was reared on tomato plants irrigated with antibiotics at concentrations found in reclaimed water, findings that could have implications for integrated pest management and the agricultural use of reclaimed wastewater.
###
Article #17-13385: "Contaminants of emerging concern affect Trichoplusia ni growth and development on artificial diets and a key host plant," by Marcus J. Pennington et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: John T. Trumble, University of California, Riverside, CA; tel: 951-827-5624; e-mail: john.trumble@ucr.edu
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences