General Information

- called Bt

- belongs to the bacillus cerus family of bacteria

• this family causes food poisoning in humans (however Bt does not)

- has a plamsid that produces protein crystals which are toxic to insects

- used in agriculture

- insecticidal bacteria

-  gram postitive

- rod shaped

- spore forming

- Bt products are produced commercially in large fermentation tanks

- Bt toxicity is specific to insects (is not very harmful on other things such as rats)

- Bt is naturally found in the soil

- had crystals inside of it which attack the receptors in the gut of the insect

- Bt products don't last very long- they have to be reapplied

    -they degrade in the sun

    - water such as rain wach them off