The university’s in-house biological safety committee has approved the development of genetically engineered forms of the bacteria for research into how they kill insects, the Environmental Risk Management Authority (Erma) said today. The unusual insecticidal bacteria - known scientifically as Yersinia entomophaga - was discovered in a dead grass grub 14 years ago, and has since been shown to be able to kill butterflies and beetles two or three days after they have been infected.