Lab-raised insects sometimes have a hard time competing with wild males for mates, but meeting a robot copy improves their chances.
Lab-raised male fruit flies are more successful at mating after meeting a robotic mannequin designed to look like a rival male. The finding could boost efforts to control fly populations, as they are a major crop pest.
The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is one of the world’s most destructive fruit pests, found on every continent except Antarctica. Various attempts have been made to curb it. Now a helper in robotics has been found.
Source: The New Scientist
