How it Works

This video explains how B. thuringiensis kills the harmful pests it targets.

How it Works:

    For B. thuringiensis to cause mortality it has to be ingested. After Bt is orally ingested it dissolves in the

gut and begins to punch holes in the lining. The Bt strains begin to spead out throughout the body of the insect

and kill it within a couple of days.

                http://www.bt.ucsd.edu/how_bt_work.html

    Even though it takes a couple of days to work, the Bt will cause the insect to stop eating. This results in minimal

plant loss. This is because the Bt toxins bind to the receptors in the gut that cause the insect to stop eating.

Then, the Bt crystals break down the gut wall. This allows gut bacteria and other spores to enter the body. This

causes the insect to die. Bt spores do not cause outbreaks on their own because they do not travel to other insects

or cause damage to the plant.

    Bt strains are specific to the receptors inside the gut. Insects carry separate genes so that a specific Bt has to work.

In some way it is like a lock and key.Because of this, farmers have to have the right B. thuringiesis. Otherwise, it won't

work and the insects will eat their crops.