Via CNN: Moths could target cocaine output
Thousands of hungry moths may hold the key to eradicating cocaine production, Colombian scientists have said, but critics say the idea could open the way for “ecological mischief.”The researchers’ plan involves breeding Eloria Noyesi moths in laboratories, then packing them up and dispatching them to the coca-producing areas of Colombia.
Once there, the moths, native to the Andean region of South America, would leap straight onto the nearest coca plant and lay their eggs on their leaves.
A week or so later, caterpillars would crawl out and eat the leaves, destroying the plant.
More than 100 eggs could be laid by each moth each month, Gonzalo Andrade, a biology professor with Colombia’s Universidad Nacional, said.
He said it could be a natural way to eradicate the coca plants.
This has “potential unintended consequences” written all over it. While I am no fan of the aerial dumping of large amounts on glyphosate (i.e, Roundup) on coca crops (because so far we have spend billions doing it to no affect on cocaine supply or price, and in so doing destroy licit crops as well) I have to wonder about this plan. Introducing, en masse, an insect into ecosystem to which it is not native can have serious negative consequences. Just think of what kudzu (a plany, granted) has done in the southeast United States.
Of course, moths sound a lot better than dumping chemicals on peasants.
June 10th, 2024 at 9:48 am
I agree, I see unintended consquences written all over this idea. Who knows where these moths will migrate to next. Will they begin to wreak havoc on cocoa (chocolate, not cocaine!) and coffee bean production as well?
June 10th, 2024 at 9:49 am
I agree — ecosystems are very fragile things, and messing with them spells disaster in just about every respect. In fact, without having done one second of research on the subject, my guess is that eradicating the coca plant would also have some unpleasant unintended consequences.
To hijack a phrase: Plants don’t make, sell or use drugs, people make, sell and use drugs.
June 11th, 2024 at 12:36 am
While the ecosystem may be damaged, one has to weigh potential disadvantages of the moths with the disadvantages of the status quo, with the costs of a drug financed criminal organizations and civil war that have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of Columbians over the last several decades.
June 11th, 2024 at 10:05 am
ATM,
You are assuming that the moths will result in a quick 100% eradication of the coca leaves. This is unlikely. Further, you are assuming that the cultivation of the coca leaves won’t just move.
Trust me: it won’t be 100% and more importantly, cultivation will simply shift.
And I quite familiar with Colombia (no “u” btw), and if I thought moths would end the violence, I would be quite interested. However, it is more likely than not that such a move will both create new problems while doing nothing to the cocaine supply (or the violence in Colombia).