Milkweeds

Cardioactive glycosides
 
Similar to digitalis
 
Can hurt livestock, Monarch caterpillars and people
 
Click picture for details
Monarch Butterfly, BT Corn and Milkweed
 
The caterpillar, or larval stage, of this insect feeds on milkweed. Bt-corn pollen, like any corn pollen, is blown by the wind onto milkweed and other plants in the vicinity of Bt-corn fields. Monarchs lay eggs on milkweed. The larval
eat the milkweed and die within 4 days.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/1999/6-14-1999/monarchbt.html
A study from Cornell University in New York was recently published in the science journal Nature and suggests that pollen from Bt corn may have toxic effects on larvae of the monarch butterfly. The caterpillar, or larval stage, of this insect feeds on milkweed. Because some milkweed grows next to corn in the Midwest, there is the potential that Bt corn pollen may drift onto milkweed and affect monarch larvae. The Cornell study has generated a tremendous amount of coverage in the national media because of the potential clash between biotechnology and wildlife.
 
  • Bt corn produces a specific toxin, originally derived from a soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis. In its natural form, the toxin, when eaten, is fatal to caterpillars of moths and butterflies. Industry scientists engineered corn plants to produce this Bt toxin in order to kill European corn borers that feed on corn plants. 
     
  • In many Bt-corn varieties, the toxin is produced in most plant tissues, including pollen. Since monarch caterpillars do not feed on corn, they might be expected to be in no danger from Bt corn. But Bt-corn pollen, like any corn pollen, is blown by the wind onto milkweed and other plants in the vicinity of Bt-corn fields. 

    • Also see: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/br/btcorn/


    Many aroids have caustic saps which cause skin irritation by contact or ingestion.
    		 

     

     

     

    Visitors
    Count is per person no matter how many pages are visited!

    web page traffic counters
    Dial Up

    Hits
    Count is for ALL the hits each visitor makes!

    prom dresses 2007 + size
    prom dresses 2007 + size