| Actual name - |
- Bacillus thuringiensis var.
kurstaki or Btk
|
| Type of Product - |
- Biological pesticide, a type of pesticide
derived from natural materials such as plants or
bacteria. Bt is a naturally occurring soil
bacteria.
|
| How Btk works - |
- Gypsy moth caterpillars must eat Btk for it to
be effictive because it interferes with the
digestion system. The active ingredient is a
crystal protein toxin formed by the bacteria. The
alkaline gut and enzimes that only caterpillars have
activate the toxin that kills the cells lining,
stopping the caterpillar from feeding and dies
withing 2 to 5 days. This alkaline condition is not
present in the stomachs of humans,birds, or fish and
other animals.
|
| How Btk is made - |
- Btk is cultured using water and nutrients such
as sugars and starches, in a fermenting process
similar to brewing beer. The final product contains
almost all water, the leftover growth medium,
carbohydrates, inert ingredients that are approved
as food additives, and the active ingredient.
|
| What Btk affects - |
- Different strains of Bt affect different
insects. Btk has no effect on humans, pets birds,
fish, livrstock, honey bees or other wildlife. Btk
is so specific to only certain moth and butterflies
that is is an approved control product for use by
certified organic gardners.
- As with the application of any control product,
people, pets or domestic animals with known
respiratory ailments or other health concerns my
wish to avoid exposure by staying indoors during the
spray operation and until the Btk product is dry
(usually a few hours).
- The Btk applied in a spray does not multiply or
accumulate inthe enviroment.
|
| Application rate - |
|
| Application timing - |
- After all caterpillars have hatched.
- Most effective when caterpillars are young and
have a gut lining thin enough for the Btk toxin to
punch holes in it. Once the larvae have gotten
larger than 5/8-inch long, they are rather difficult
to kill.
- Mid—to late –May or early June
|
| Why we use Btk - |
- Breaks down in sunlight
within seven days
- Highly effective: nearly 80% mortality of gypsy
moth caterpillars in treated areas
- Highly effective with high gypsy moth
caterpillar populations
- Readily available
- Known to be toxic to feeding caterpillars of
moths and butterflies and is safe to humans, birds,
fish, pets, beneficial insects and other non-target
organisms
|
| FORAY 48B ORMI CERTIFICATE - |
Foray 48B OMRI Certificate – This product may be used
in certified organic production. |
| FORAY 48B ORGANIC LABEL - |
Foray
48B US Organic Label – For commercial Forestry and wide
area pest tretment – Aerial Application |
| FORAY 48B MSDS- |
Foray 48B
Organic Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) |
