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Posted on 04/20/2002 7:28:20 AM PDT by galt-jw
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Must suck to be them.
Hey! Why aren't the P.E.T.A. people on top of this?! Poor little cuddly locusts...
Green Muscle: an environmentally friendly weapon against locust and grasshopper plagues
After many years of collaborative research, scientists in Africa have come up with an environmentally friendly weapon that looks set to finally defeat locust and grasshopper plagues. The biopesticide, called Green Muscle, provides a safe, natural alternative to chemical insecticides in the fight against crop-destroying locusts and grasshoppers.
Swarms of locusts and grasshoppers have long plagued farmers in Africa and around the world. The first commercial quantities of Green Muscle were recently released in what is believed to be the largest aerial spraying of a biopesticide ever conducted in Africa. Early reports of the spraying in Niger indicate that the biopesticide provides complete control up to three times longer than do current chemical insecticides, making it less expensive for farmers to protect their crops from locusts and grasshoppers, as well as safer.
Scientists from the Nigeria-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), working with the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) in the UK, developed the natural pesticide over a ten-year period as part of an international research consortium called LUBILOSA (LUtte BIologique contre les LOcustes et les SAuteriaux or Biological Control of Locusts and Grasshoppers).
The new control method uses a naturally occurring fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, that is deadly to both locusts and grasshoppers but does not damage other insects, plants, animals, or people. When added to an oil-based carrier, the resulting dark green liquid can be sprayed by hand or from an aircraft. Once infected by the fungal preparation, locusts and grasshoppers die within 4–10 days. The fungus strain currently used by scientists is indigenous to Africa, but strains from various origins can be used. This makes localized formulations possible. Scientists foresee the fungal formulation as having widespread use beyond Africa in other countries where grasshoppers and locusts are problem pests.
Chemical insecticides kill beneficial small animals and insects, as well as pose dangers to local people. It is believed that the ongoing spraying of insecticides throughout Africa, including locations frequented by migratory birds, is also contributing to large decreases in the numbers of migratory flocks in Europe.
click for source
History repeats itself, because mankind continues to repeat sinfull actions over and over again. Only the names and the date has changed. There will be more. And more. And more. And more, until mankind understands. The Commandments aren't just suggestions. They're there for a reason. *sigh* It's like watching reruns.
LOL. I thought the same thing when I read the part about them "being brutally murdered. Locusts have rights, too!"
I'm suprised the Enviro wacos and peacenicks aren't protesting and blaming Bush. And Hillary and Chelsea, "Had he not givin that huge tax break...."
Oil based? Non-water soluable? It just falls onto the soil, leaving an oil film to plug up root systems? And stops plants from being able to expel oxygen?
Won't the animals who eat those plants OD on oil? They're not designed to consume large amouts of oil. Won't their rumens plug up? What about their colesterol?
You can't be serious.
It must be oil based. A water based solution will wash out in the first rain. Oil is a persistant agent and will stick to the plants longer. The oil will not be poured onto the ground. It will be spread in aerosol form. There will not be enough oil to seriously affect plant or animal growth. (Other than the locust.) Cholesterol is only a problem for humans and their pets who consume large amounts of saturated fats. Cholesterol itself is not a bad thing. It is used to make hormones, cell membranes, and other tissues in the body.
(speaking in a heavy Arabic accent) ".... Allah has declared a Jihad on the locusts. Death to the locusts!"
A few weeks ago, the Muslims were saying that Allah was punishing America by causing an earthquake in Afghanistan. I'm sure many of the fools will now claim that this swarm of locusts is Allah's way of punishing America.
It's apparent that the desert-demon known as "Allah" is about as competent as the people who worship him.
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