Scientists believe insects would kill coca crops

OGOTA,Colombia - A group of Colombian scientists believe they've found a way to wipe out cocaine production: unleash an army of hungry moth caterpillars. But critics of the proposal say the chance for "ecological mischief" is high.

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The plan envisions breeding thousands of beige-colored Eloria Noyesi moths in laboratories, packing them into boxes and releasing them into steamy coca-growing regions of Colombia, the world's main supplier of the drug. The moths, about twice the size of a fly, are native only to the Andean region of South America.

Colombian Environment Minister Sandra Suarez told The Associated Press that the government considers the proposal an "interesting alternative" to existing eradication methods.

Carlos Alberto Gomez, president of the privately funded National Network of Botanical Gardens, made the proposal last week. He said the moths would naturally make a beeline for the coca plants and lay their eggs on the leaves. About a week later, caterpillars would emerge and destroy the plants by devouring the leaves.

Each moth could lay eggs on more than a hundred plants in one month, said Gonzalo Andrade, a biology professor with Colombia's Universidad Nacional, who has been working with the botanical garden group. He called it a natural solution to eradication. "It would be like fumigating the crops with moths," Andrade said.

But the idea has already drawn criticism. Ricardo Vargas, director of the Colombian environmental group Andean Action, contended that while the moths may be native to this region, there's nothing natural about releasing thousands of them into small areas. The tropics have the world's most diverse plant life, he said, so the moths would likely threaten other plants as well. "With a plan like this, the chance for ecological mischief is very high and very dangerous," Vargas said.

Gomez's association also recommended the use of other natural enemies of coca such as fungus.

The proposal, and the Colombian government's interest, comes five years into a massive fumigation program of coca crops in Colombia, paid for and mostly carried out by the U.S. government.

A record number of acres was fumigated by the crop dusters last year, but the total number of acres under cultivation at the end of 2004 was slightly more than the number left over in 2003 after spraying. Peasant farmers have been simply replanting the fast-growing coca, frustrating the eradication efforts.

Andrade said moths would better counter the replanting problem because they would continue to reproduce and attack the plants.

The idea to use biological agents to eradicate coca is not new. In 2000, the Colombian government rejected a proposal by the United States to introduce a fungus called Fusarium oxysporum to coca plants as a means of eradication. Colombia said it was concerned about possible mutations and adverse affects on people and the environment in the delicate Amazon basin, where most of Colombia's coca is grown.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8156573/

By pachovia on Jun 9, 2005, 11:36 in Politics & the war.

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adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 9, 2005, 12:11: Ridiculous Like production of anything there must be demand to create suppl. Limiting supply will only drive costs up and increase drug-related violent and property crimes. "The not our problem, but YOUR problem" attitude is soo irritating. Ecological "mischief" is putting it lightly, especially with our history or well-intended introductions. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Paul Anthony says on Jun 9, 2005, 13:05: Terrible Idea!!! I can only imagine the ecological consequences of such an action! Besides which, what about the damage to legitimate crops grown by poor farmers, who are probably struggling anyway. The problem of coca production can only be solved by cutting off demand, as long as rich spoiled individuals in Europe and the North America continue to demand the product, ways will always be found to supply it. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jun 9, 2005, 17:10: Poison I think the government should get the hands on some of the stuff, poison it with something lethal and see what happens after. Maybe the demmand will diminish and people would move on to some European or American designer lab proof drugs. I would imagine two days later the European and American governments will legalize and tax those drugs. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

platano says on Jun 9, 2005, 17:26: Juanalejo, are you suggesting the government.... spray poison on the consumers of cocaine in the USA? I am opposed to spraying poison on people, whether spraying producers or spraying USA consumers who are creating the demand. I think everybody should just stop this spraying-mania. Plátano, el banano verde Oxigeno Verde ¡Libertad por Ingrid y los demás! plátano 0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jun 9, 2005, 17:36: Anything For me anything that would send a message to the consumers. They either quit doing it, or pressure their governments for legalizing the stuff. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

juanalejo says on Jun 9, 2005, 18:50: Tinto At least two weeks of permanent diarrhea, I think the cost of everybody at the hospital would make the insurance companies think about pressuring the government into a fast track legalization. You know how it is in the U.S. money talks. 0 funny, 0 helpful.

kernow62 says on Jun 10, 2005, 03:25: Hell Juanalejo I get that just eating a salad here in the US. I am about to start only eating steak! http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/cyclospora.html 0 funny, 0 helpful.

Desideria (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 25, 2005, 04:58: eloria noyesi on the front page of El Tiempo, a nice pic of the "mariposa gringa". http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/ Cheers, Desi "When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth) 0 funny, 0 helpful.

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