Modified Corn Could Be Killing The Bees

"Built-in pesticides" linked to disappearing honeybees
By Sarah Seltzer,  Newser User
Posted Mar 29, 2007 10:57 AM CDT
Modified Corn Could Be Killing The Bees
A handful of corn is shown before it is processed at the Tall Corn Ethanol plant in Coon Rapids, Iowa, in this May 24, 2006 file photo. Strong demand for corn from ethanol plants is driving up the cost of livestock and will raise prices for beef, pork and chicken, the Agriculture Department said Friday,...   (Associated Press)

Genetically modified corn is the culprit in the disappearance of honeybees, according to a theory offered by a beekeeping expert, says Salon.  In a German study, the corn itself, which contains built-in pesticides, didn't kill the bees, but it seems to have damaged their intestines, making them vulnerable to parasites.

The killer corn thery  hasn't gotten much respect in the U.S., but has enjoyed wide play in the German media. A note of caution from Salon's Andrew Leonard:
Since bees are dying on several continents, it would be a reach to conclude that the GM corn— rare in Germany but common in the U.S.—could be the lone bee-killer. (More bees stories.)

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