pest

The problem is complex: Not only are crops battling higher temperatures, but they're also facing more frequent pest outbreaks and diseases.

Neonicotinoids are a group of insecticides used in agriculture, horticulture and veterinary medicine to control pests - but they also harm bees and other beneficial insects.

Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, said Tidwell's findings are a great example of a researcher identifying an unknown aspect of a pest's biology that could be leveraged and used as a novel control tool.

In her letter, Ms Allen said foxes had “unearned reputations” as pests and this was partly due to derogatory descriptions of them.

It includes crops destroyed by pests or extreme weather, produce or meat that spoils in transport because of faulty packaging and food that goes bad at market before it can be sold.