Thursday, 10 January 2013

Bugs need symbiotic bacteria to exploit plant seeds

Jena, Germany (SPX) Jan 10, 2013



Aggregations of the red and black colored firebugs are ubiquitous under linden trees in Central Europe, where the bugs can reach astounding population densities. While these insects have no impact on humans, their African, Asian, and American relatives, the cotton stainers, are serious agricultural pests of cotton and other Malvaceous plants.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute .....