NEWSWEEK - A new species of tiny parasitic worm has been discovered, and it could be used to kill insect pests in place of chemical pesticides.
The new species, named Steinernema adamsi, is a type of worm known as a nematode, other species of which have been used for years to control and kill insects, according to a paper in the Journal of Parasitology.
When new species of these worms are discovered, scientists get excited, as they may have special properties that allow them to control some insects, or withstand different types of weather, enabling them to be used instead of pesticides.
"We spray trillions of them on crops every year, and they're easy to buy," Adler Dillman, a University of California Riverside nematology professor and co-discoverer of the new species, said in a statement. "Though there are more than 100 species of Steinernema, we're always on the lookout for new ones because each has unique features. Some might be better in certain climates or with certain insects."