Genomic sequencing of Plutella xylostella. Genomic sequencing of Plutella xylostella

The diamondback moth is a globally significant pest that currently costs agriculture an estimated US$4-5 billion annually, but for which the origin and invasion patterns are unknown. Here we resolve this challenge by identifying South America as this pest’s origin using genomic sequencing and analysis of 532 individual from 114 sites across 56 countries.