Hi All
 
It is good to hear Dave has had success on cotton which is
genetically modified.
 
From what I understand the 'insecticide' in cotton is nothing more
than a virus which has been cloned into the cotton. In otherwords the
cotton plant now produces a natural virus of the pest which eats the
cotton and this virus being present in the sap of the plant kills
that pest when it eats the cotton.
 
The virus is insect specific, and specific to the pest as well.
 
If ones bees get any of this virus they will digest it, just like
they would digest any other of the millions of plant viruses they
ingest every day and will use the useful DNA and proteins as a food
source.
 
These sorts of viral pesticides actually represent a major bonus for
beekeepers as the chances of any toxicity for our bees resulting is
minimal.
 
Keep well
 
Garth
Garth Cambray           Camdini Apiaries
Grahamstown             Apis mellifera capensis
Eastern Cape Prov.
South Africa
 
Time = Honey
 
After careful consideration, I have decided that if I am ever a V.I.P
the I. may not stand for important.
(rather influential, ignorant, idiotic, intelectual, illadvised etc)