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Scientists Use Sex-Crazed Bugs As Pesticide

Posted by samzenpus on from the doin'-it-hopper-style dept.

ByronScott writes "In today's 'gross news' category, some female insects just might be getting lucky. As an alternative to toxic pesticides, scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have created 'super-sexed' sterilized male leafhoppers to knock bug boots with females in the wild, resulting in decreased populations. Yes, that means that the female bugs will miss out on the joys of motherhood, but the idea that the insects will be having some fun instead of being gassed to death by poisons is pretty cool."

13 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Death by Snoo-Snoo by bsDaemon · · Score: 5, Funny

    nuff said.

    1. Re:Death by Snoo-Snoo by madsenj37 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fry: Goodbye, friends. I never thought I'd die like this. But I always really hoped.

      Zapp Brannigan: We need rest. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy and bruised.

      --
      Choosing the lesser of two evils is a choice for evil.
    2. Re:Death by Snoo-Snoo by smoyer · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nothing much ... what's snoo with you?

  2. Re:Cool ! by santax · · Score: 4, Funny

    So... and where can I get such a breakfast?

  3. Re:Cool ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    I remember hearing about an implant for males that was remote control operated, and was basically a little sphere that expanded on command, thus closing the vas deferens or whatever its called and preventing ejaculation. At the time i was all 'womans rights foundations has a bazillion offices and the national mens rights committee is staffed by an 80 year old working out of his living room' so I was not happy. Then I had sex for the first time. amazing how attitudes change. also grasshoppers or something.

  4. Re:A very green solution, except... by antifoidulus · · Score: 2, Funny

    And of course as a side effect the various irradiated bugs bite unsuspecting field trip students and imbue them with super powers. I cannot wait until Grasshopper-Man starts solving crimes!

    --
    Monstar L
  5. Imagine this with humans by voss · · Score: 5, Funny

    doc: "Good news Is youre gonna get laid all the time, but you wont be able to have kids"
    Guy:"Doc dont hold back, whats the bad news?"

  6. Re:A very green solution, except... by Cryacin · · Score: 2, Funny

    No I didn't! Just grandma.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  7. Re:FAIL by Cryacin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Actually, usually for database designers it's a one to zero relationship.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  8. Re:Sounds like something I've seen on TV before by ceoyoyo · · Score: 2, Funny

    You'll be irresistible to bugs.

  9. Re:Cool ! by EdIII · · Score: 2, Funny

    selection pressure which produces a new type of female that avoids these lab-males.

    Evolution will give here the ability to have spontaneous headaches?

  10. Please don't... by ciotog · · Score: 2, Funny
    "the idea that the insects will be having some fun..."

    Insects hate anthropomorphization.

  11. Re:insect sex is not fun by mdwh2 · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the link, "two surveys of college students showed that sexual intercourse often involved deeper and more vigorous penile thrusting following periods of separation"

    There I was puzzled as to why having a good hard fuck seemed a good idea after a period of separation, but now I know - obviously it's just to remove someone else's semen.