Question: Why do you use moths and not other insects?

Jessica Forsyth answered on 9 Dec 2020:

The type of insect you use for experiments is specific to what you are investigating. There are many different types of insects that are used by members of my lab group including aphids and mosquitoes. They are each used to answer different experimental questions. I am just responsible for rearing the population of moths and these are used because they possess unique resistance to bioinsecticides. Bioinsecticides are a form of pest control so if certain species of moths are able to evolve resistance and avoid being killed by these then it’s important for us to understand how this resistance evolves and the factors responsible for it.