- HALF MOON BAY, California, October 24, 1997 -- Some ladybugs
in Scotland have become very important this week because they
may be the first proof that non-target species can be harmed by
transgenic crops.Transgenic bio-engineering involves inserting
genes into one species from another in order to gain - Ladybugs
-- or "ladybirds" if you are European -- have always been
considered friendly insects in the garden and on the farm. They
eat many insects that are harmful to crops and flowers. Ladybugs
are part of the natural system. - The lifespan of ladybugs was
reduced to half when they ate aphids that had fed on genetically
altered potatoes in Scotland, according to a London Times
article (10/22/97) by Science Editor, Nigel Hawkes. The ladybugs
also laid fewer eggs. - Fears of genetic engineering critics
were fanned by the news that ladybugs were damaged by eating
insects feeding on altered potatoes. - Among the critics'
concerns are: that non-target organisms may be affected by
pesticide genes put into plants