Each winter millions of Monarch butterflies migrate from U.S. to
warm forest in southern Mexico. An alarming study claims the
monarch' s winter home may be destroyed within 50 years, so the
Mexican government has decided to expand the protected area.
Monarchs breed in the Midwest-just as young corn plants shed
pollen (dust-like fertilizing cells). But one-quarter of U.S.
cornfields are planted with genetically altered or transgenic
seed; to protect corn crops from pests, scientist insert a gene
from the bacterium (single-celled organism) Bacillus
thuringiensis into the plant cells. The gene makes the corn
produce its own "pesticide"- a toxin (poison) called
"Bt". Some recent research shows that Bt-corn pollen
could be deadly to the butterflies. But other studies show that
Bt-corn has no affect on monarchs. Due to the gradual spread of the exotic
milkweed plant Asclepias sp. across the Pacific Ocean,
the Wanderer or Monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus, has
relatively recently arrived in Australia (1871). The milkweed
plants Asclepias sp support the larvae of butterflies
which may frequent the park during migratory periods. Native
butterfly species may be attracted into the Memorial Park (Ryde
City, near Paramatta River, not far from Sydney) as the bushland
undergoes further ecological restoration. Other Images of Mine: click to enlarge!
