A study done at Iowa State University finds pollen from genetically modified corn crops is much more lethal to butterflies than that from regular corn. I-S-U entomology professor John Obrycki says they tested Monarch caterpillars with pollen from G-M-O and non-G-M-O crops.He says 20-percent of the caterpillars exposed to the G-M-O corn died within 48 hours. Of those exposed to the other pollen in two control groups, zero and three percent died. Professor Obrycki says the new research further shows there should be warning flags raised about G-M-O corn. He says it’s a powerful new technology that deserves some caution in its use.Obrycki says it’s difficult to predict what other types of creatures might be harmed by the genetically modified corn, which was created to repel or kill certain destructive insects. He says it’s very effective against the corn borer with some effect on Monarch butterflies. He says it has shown no effect against Black Swallowtail butterflies. The I-S-U research will be published next month in a German-based international ecological journal called “Oecelogia”.
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