"Unintentional Discovery: Japanese Scientists Find Male-Specific Virus in Insects"

Japanese scientists from Minami Kyushu University accidentally discovered a virus, named Spodoptera litura male-killing virus (SLMKV), that specifically targets and kills male insects. The virus was found in a green caterpillar, and subsequent breeding experiments revealed that only three males were born in 13 generations. Genetic analysis confirmed the presence of a virus, and attempts to eliminate the "male-killing" effect with antibiotics were unsuccessful. This discovery could potentially help control populations of disease vectors like mosquitoes and aid in finding a "female killer" to control their populations.