Corn which has been genetically engineered by Monsanto to kill western corn rootworm is reportedly being devoured by those pests with a vengeance. Thanks to the heavy reliance on the genetically modified crops, the tiny rootworm pest has overtaken fields, outsmarting the genetic engineering that was supposed to keep it away. According to recent reports, pesticide-resistant rootworms are showing up weeks earlier and more voraciously than ever.
Mike Gray, a professor of entomology with the University of Illinois reported: “We're still early in the growing season, and the adults are about a month ahead of schedule,” explained Gray. “I was surprised to see them – and there were a lot.”
Reports of increasing rootworm damage began coming in last after Iowa State University researcher, Aaron Gassmann, published a study saying that the rootworms were becoming resistant to the product, creating so-called “superbugs” in Iowa fields.