How Healthy Were the Cornell Study Monarch Caterpillars?

[Nigel Venters]

Chip Taylor wrote: 

> All lep breeders have difficulties with diseases from time to time. We do
> our best to minimize disease and replace all stocks whose deaths can be
> attributed to disease. Some of the problems are related to shipping and
> some of the breeders have made mistakes in handling their stocks.
> 
> None of the livestock used by in the Cornell study or in the studies
> reported to date from Iowa State originated from MW. The breeding stock
at
> Cornell was derived from 4 males and 4 females more than five years ago.
> This is the most disease free stock available. Unfortunately, this
culture
> will be terminated in July.
> 
> All the tests reported by these investigators were run with appropriate
> controls. If disease had been a factor, this would have been evident in
the
> tests.
> Monarch Watch

Well I hope your right or presumably you'd have to call yourself "Formerly
known as Monarch Watch" and start watching something else?