Green tree ants swarm over oak blue caterpillars but they are not attacking them. They are drinking a sweet liquid that the caterpillars give off especially to attract the ants. The ants act like living armor, shielding the caterpillar from wasps that might lay eggs on it. The ants and the caterpillars are partners in nature.
Live and let live
Live and let live Advocates of the development and use of
genetically engineered crops say that they will be beneficial to
the environment. Crops which are resistant to certain pests mean
that less pesticide needs to be used to produce a crop. They also
say that producing plants resistant to some herbicides means that
safer and fewer herbicides can be used in farming, all of which
will benefit the environment. Those who are against genetically
engineered crops say that there could be some benefits to the
environment, but that they are outweighed by the risks. Experiments
have shown that some varieties of pest-resistant plants can also
harm beneficial insects. These researchers also say that being able
to use herbicides on crops will lead to a reduction of plant
diversity in the areas surrounding the crop, which could actually
harm the yield in the long run. If plants which harbour beneficial
insects around the fields are killed, the reduction of beneficial
insects could harm the crop. The introduction of genes which make
pesticides develop within a plant itself could also be harmful
because those insects that the pesticide is aimed at could develop
a resistance to the pesticide more quickly than they would have if
it was used in the traditional way. 31 OCTOBER 1998, P. 46-49
Cool Articles
