Male fruit flies reared in a lab are more successful at mating after an encounter with a robotic dummy designed to look like a rival male. The finding could boost efforts to control populations of the flies, which are a major crop pest. The Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) is one of the most destructive fruit pests in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica.

Numerous California raisin growers are seeking federal compensation for crops surrendered years ago as part of an old supply management system. In two lawsuits that seek to become a large class action, and a separate suit filed by a single Fresno County farm, growers seek government payments to offset what's been deemed a government "taking" of their property. A federal judge last week kept all three lawsuits alive, rejecting Justice Department efforts to dismiss them. "At this point, the government should just settle and write the checks," said attorney James A. Moody, who represents Fresno County-based Lion Farms. "In my view, the case is over at this point."