By Staff Writer - March, 26th 2014

The corn rootworm does its damage as a larva – the immature stage of the insect.  After mating in the late summer, adult corn rootworms lay their eggs in the soil, depositing them in cornfields in many regions.  The eggs survive the winter underground and hatch in the spring, when the larvae can feed on the roots of young corn plants in farmers’ fields. Rootworm larvae feed almost exclusively on corn roots. Rootworm larval feeding inhibits the corn plant's ability to take up water and nutrients, decreases its ability to develop and remain upright, and – ultimately – leads to possible yield loss, depending on the damage inflicted on the roots by the feeding pests and the growing conditions.

By Heather Callaghan

The issue of corn-destroying rootworms becoming resistant to the very crops designed to kill them – isn't breaking news. Not only was it predicted before the advent of commercialized genetically engineered crops, but it's been an ongoing problem.

Apparently, it's become such a tipping point recently, that it's finally starting to turn heads in the mainstream corporate media. Or at least they have finally taken heed of a new study on March 17th, that confirms corn rootworm resistance.

The type of biotechnology we're talking about here is Bt corn with the “pesticide” donor gene Bacillus thuringiensis already built in so that there isn't much need to spray chemical pesticides. Bugs eat the living biocide (which is a gene from a soil bacterium) – their stomachs are destroyed – they keel over. Well, that was the original gist of it.

Three types of Bt corn account for over three quarters of all U.S. corn crops. The …

Make sure to read the rest of the article at Naturalblaze.

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