Bacillus Thuringiensis Agricultural Insecticides

                                                                                   Bacillus thuringiensis

Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) is a Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium, commonly used as a biological pesticide.

B. thuringiensis also occurs naturally in the gut of caterpillars of various types of moths and butterflies, as well on leaf surfaces,

aquatic environments, animal feces, insect-rich environments, and flour mills and grain-storage facilities. 

It has also been observed to parasitize other moths such as

Cadra calidella—in laboratory experiments working with C. calidella, many of the moths were diseased due to this parasite.

During sporulation, many Bt strains produce crystal proteins (proteinaceous inclusions), called δ-endotoxins, that have insecticidal action.

This has led to their use as insecticides, and more recently to genetically modified crops using Bt genes, such as Bt corn.

Many crystal-producing Bt strains, though, do not have insecticidal properties.

The subspecies israelensis is commonly used for control of mosquitoes and of fungus gnats.