Changes to a pest's diet could slow the evolution of resistance to biopesticides, according to research from University of Stirling scientists.

It is hoped that the findings could allow the development of biopesticides that are effective for longer, potentially increasing food security, reducing damage to the natural environment and boosting agro-ecological biodiversity.

Researchers discovered that cotton bollworm pests—a species of moth that can cause considerable agricultural damage—show a great deal of genetic variation in how well they survive after being exposed to biopesticide fungi, which are often considered safer alternatives to chemical pesticides.

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