For much of the twentieth century, the pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) was one of the greatest threats to cotton farming in North America. The tiny insect caused billions of dollars in crop losses by burrowing into cotton bolls, where its larvae fed on seeds and fibres while remaining largely protected from pesticides. Farmers often had little choice but to spray their fields repeatedly, yet the pest continued to spread and develop resistance to many chemical controls.
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