Abstract
Abstract A transgenic corn event (MON 863) has been recently developed by Monsanto Company for control of corn rootworms, Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This transgenic corn event expresses the cry3Bb1 gene derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner), which encodes the insecticidal Cry3Bb1 protein for corn rootworm control. A continuous feeding study was conducted in the laboratory to evaluate the dietary effect of MON 863 pollen expressing the Cry3Bb1 protein on the survival, larval development, and reproductive capacity of the non‐target species, Coleomegilla maculata DeGeer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). First instar C. maculata (less than 24 h old) and newly emerging adults (less than 72 h old) were fed individually on a diet mixture containing 50% of MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic (control) corn pollen, bee pollen (a component of normal rearing diet), or potassium arsenate‐treated control corn pollen. In the larval tests, 96.7%, 90.0%, and 93.3% of C. maculata larvae successfully pupated and then emerged as adults when fed on MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen (normal rearing) diets, respectively. Among the larvae completing their development, there were no significant differences in the developmental time to pupation and adult emergence among the transgenic corn pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen diet treatments. All larvae fed on arsenate treated corn pollen diet died as larvae. For tests with adults, 83.3%, 80.0%, and 100% of adult C. maculata survived for the 30 days of the test period when reared on diets containing 50% of MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen respectively. While the adult survival rate on MON 863 pollen diet was significantly less than that on the bee pollen diet, there was no significant difference between the MON 863 and non‐transgenic corn pollen treatments. During the period of adult testing, an average of 77, 80, and 89 eggs per female were laid by females fed on the MON 863 pollen, control corn pollen, and bee pollen, respectively; no significant differences were detected in the number of eggs laid among these treatments. These results demonstrate that when offered at 50% by weight of the dietary component, transgenic corn (MON 863) pollen expressing Cry3Bb1 protein had no measurable negative effect on the survival and development of C. maculata larvae to pupation and adulthood nor any adverse effect on adult survival and reproductive capacity. Relevance of these findings to ecological impacts of transgenic Bt crops on non‐target beneficial insects is discussed.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Larval adult emergence was 96.7% on MON 863 pollen, 90.0% on control corn pollen, and 93.3% on bee pollen.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Interactor
- C. maculata
Coleomegilla maculatae0other - Outcome
- C. maculata larvae successfully pupated and then emerged as adultse0
- Value
- 96.7%, 90.0%, and 93.3%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“96.7%, 90.0%, and 93.3% of C. maculata larvae successfully pupated and then emerged as adults when fed on MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen (normal rearing) diets, respectively.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Larval development time did not significantly differ across the three pollen diets.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- transgenic corn pollene0
- Outcome
- developmental time to pupation and adult emergencee0
- Direction
- no significant differencese0
- Comparator
- non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen diet treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“there were no significant differences in the developmental time to pupation and adult emergence among the transgenic corn pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen diet treatments.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
All larvae on arsenate treated corn pollen died.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- arsenate treated corn pollen diete0
- Outcome
- died as larvaee0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“All larvae fed on arsenate treated corn pollen diet died as larvae.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Adult survival was 83.3%, 80.0%, and 100% on MON 863, control corn, and bee pollen diets.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Interactor
- C. maculata
Coleomegilla maculatae0other - Outcome
- adult C. maculata survivede0
- Value
- 83.3%, 80.0%, and 100%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“83.3%, 80.0%, and 100% of adult C. maculata survived for the 30 days of the test period when reared on diets containing 50% of MON 863 pollen, non‐transgenic corn pollen, and bee pollen respectively.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Adult survival on MON 863 pollen was significantly lower than on bee pollen.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- MON 863 pollen diete0
- Outcome
- adult survival ratee0
- Direction
- less thane0
- Comparator
- bee pollen diete0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“adult survival rate on MON 863 pollen diet was significantly less than that on the bee pollen diet”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Adult survival did not significantly differ between MON 863 and nontransgenic corn pollen.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Treatment
- MON 863e0
- Outcome
- no significant differencee0
- Direction
- no significant differencee0
- Comparator
- non‐transgenic corn pollen treatmentse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“there was no significant difference between the MON 863 and non‐transgenic corn pollen treatments.”
t0“corn”
Claim · model-written summary
Mean eggs per female were 77, 80, and 89 on MON 863, control corn, and bee pollen diets, without significant differences.
- Taxon
- corn
Zea mays subsp. mayst0
- Outcome
- eggs per femalee0
- Value
- 77, 80, and 89 eggs per femalee0
Not reportedInteractor
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“an average of 77, 80, and 89 eggs per female were laid by females fed on the MON 863 pollen, control corn pollen, and bee pollen, respectively; no significant differences were detected in the number of eggs laid among these treatments.”
t0“corn”
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