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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
James Fischer <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 07:48:13 -0500
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> an  interesting example of GMO being a possible huge help!  

But are "Flea Beetles" a pest or a beneficial insect?
They seem to worth propagating and releasing several hundred miles to the
south to halt the spread of the invasive Tallow Tree.
Are these the same or similar beetles?  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5080581/Super-invader-tree-hi
ts-South-flea-beetle-hero.html
https://tinyurl.com/y82fu6yp

If this GMO "trait" spreads the way that many other have to other plants
(with honey bees and their cross-pollinating being the probable proximate
cause), will Flea Beetles then be unable to halt the spread of the invasive
Tallow Tree?  The trait seems a broad-brush trait, effective against a wide
range of beetles.  Even if we are speaking of different beetles sharing the
same informal name, the GMO trait seems to target both.

Which is more risky? Introducing one non-native species to control another
non-native species, or introducing a "trait" that might eliminate a species
via spread to other plants?
 
What's a beneficial insect, and what's a pest?
What's a beneficial GMO, and what's a toxin impacting non-target beneficial
insects?
Which should I be rooting for?

Like the guys at the ballpark yell - "Ya can't tell the players without a
scorecard!"

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