Rachel Carson was inspired by the monarch butterflies, which she described as "brightly
fluttering bits of life," as she watched their migration past her beloved Newagen Point in Maine for the last
time in 1963.
Now these enchanting, heroic and fragile creatures have sent a warning about threats posed by genetically engineered corn containing Bt toxin. This transgenic corn produces pollen with the Bt protein which is highly toxic to caterpillars. How does corn pollen reach milkweed, the exclusive food of the monarch caterpillar? Being a grass, corn is pollinated by the wind, which can blow the pollen more than 60 yards from the field. In a laboratory study by John E. Losey of Cornell University, nearly half of the monarch caterpillars died after feeding on milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from the Bt corn, while all the caterpillars fed normal corn pollen survived.
A study at Iowa State found that monarch larvae died after being fed milkweed leaves harvested from a plant located one meter from a Bt cornfield. "None were harmed by eating leaves washed of the pollen." (Wall Street Journal, "Modified corn seed hurt butterfly in test", May 20, 1999)
Last year more than seven million acres of Bt transgenic corn were planted by US farmers. The transgenic corn makes the toxic protein from bacteria in each cell so as to eliminate the European corn borer feeding anywhere on the plant.
Each year about half the monarch butterfly population migrates through the US Corn Belt just as millions of acres of Bt corn are shedding pollen. Some of the other 19 species of moths and butterflies on the US Endangered Species list may also be at risk if they eat plants growing near Bt corn fields. The US Environmental Protection Agency did not require companies to test the effect of the pollen on monarchs or any other nonpest butterflies or moths before approving Bt corn. (Reports on John E. Losey's publication in May 20, 1999, Nature; Dr. Jane Rissler, Union of Concerned Scientists)
Beneficial insects such as the lacewing are vulnerable to indirect hazards from the Bt corn as well. The lacewings preying on the corn borers which were reared on Bt corn died more quickly than controls. (Described in our Rachel Carson Council News # 90)
Rachel Carson Council asks citizens to write to: Administrator, EPA, 402 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460 with the following urgent request:
Glossary
The Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) bacteria produce a toxic protein lethal to caterpillars due to a unique condition in the caterpillar intestinal tract.
The gene for the Bt protein has been transplanted into a corn plant producing transgenic Bt corn. This is a patented life form.
A transgenic plant is one in which a genetically engineered method has been used to insert foreign genetic material (DNA). In the case of the Bt transgenic corn the genetic material comes from bacteria.
Genetic Engineering is based on the technology which makes possible the ability to move genetic material (DNA) from one organism (a virus, fungus or animal) to another organism (a plant, animal or bacteria). Totally new life forms can be created by this technology. Thus these novel life forms can be patented.
Rachel Carson Council, Inc.
PO Box 10779, Silver Spring, Maryland 20914
Phone: (301) 593-7507
Home || Catalog || Basic Guide || Lawn Care Pesticide Clusters
http://www.rachelcarsoncouncil.org/monarch.htm
5/21/99