> Fruit flies that normally must mate to reproduce can be genetically modified to give birth asexually for generations to come<p>As the host of an annual fruit fly infestation, this sounds like an incredibly bad idea.<p>> The findings could have implications for food security, because virgin births may be becoming more common among crop pests, the researchers say<p>Sounds like they figured that out too.<p>> Sperling suspects that modern agricultural practices are creating the right kinds of pressures to spur virgin births in insects that attack crops, which could make the pests harder to eliminate.<p>I guess it's good that we have a better idea of what enables it.