I found this looking up BT: n addition to being a convenient way of controlling pests, Bt is also a good way to maintain the natural equilibrium of the ecosystem in your garden. Biological enemies, from predators to parasites, are vital to the long-term balance of pest control in the garden. They are not always apparent to the gardener because they are under good natural control, but they play an important role in the proper functioning of the ecosystem. If you can control the pest and still leave its most important natural enemies alive, you have a superior pest control tool because these enemies will help keep pest levels below a reasonable threshold. Most insecticides on the market, including insecticidal soaps, kill a wide range of insects, including many predators and parasites. Once these natural enemies are killed, the pest can resurge and reestablish itself before its enemy can do the same. You can also trigger a new, or secondary, pest problem if the product you use kills off natural enemies of other pests. The initial pest problem may be resolved but there could be a new one in its place. Bt is a superior least-toxic pest control product because it targets the pests only and doesn’t kill the natural enemies. It works with the existing ecosystem and won’t cause secondary pests. Monitor to determine application time Proper timing of the application of Bt is important, so to get it right you need to monitor daily. Since Bt is a stomach poison, the insect must eat it for it to be effective. This means you must treat caterpillar pests when they are actively feeding. Once the caterpillars are fully grown, they usually move off the surface of the plant and stop feeding, in preparation for making a cocoon. The Bt spray must be deposited on the leaf surfaces after the eggs have hatched but before the larger larvae move on to pupation sites.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 05:54:12 +0000
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