Message #246 - THE_HERBALIST 
   Date: 03-05-96 01:37
   From: Trav'ler
     To: ALL
Subject: Worm Control Pt2 of 2
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Copied from:
Texas Agriculture Extension Service
_Texas Earth-Kind (tm) Landscape and Gardening Guidelines_
Spring 1996

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BT - Worm Control
Part 2 0f 2

  Anything which causes many horrible symptoms as B.T. does should 
be feared.  It is by susceptible caterpillars, but only 
susceptible caterpillars that have the necessary combination of 
pH, salts, and enzymes in their digestive systems needed to 
activate B.T.  The alkaline pH (greater than 7.0) gut of 
susceptible caterpillars activates B.T.  Acid-gutted (stomached) 
creatures cannot be affected.  Humans and mammals are not in any 
way affected.

  B.T. was discovered in 1915 by a German named Berliner.  He 
isolated this unique pathogen which he named _Bacillus 
thuringiensis_ (B.T.) after the town for Thuringia, Germany.  B.T. 
is a naturally occurring bacterium that causes a deadly disease to 
certain lepidopterous (caterpillar) insects.

  B.T. products do not have any of the hazards sometimes associated 
with chemical insecticides.  B.T. is a natural occurring pathogen 
that is biodegradable in the environment.  It is rapidly 
inactivated in soil below pH of 5.1.  Rainfall, exposure to 
sunlight and, in some cases, the type of foliage on which it is 
sprayed may cause B.T. spores and crystals to lose some of their 
viability over time.  The bacteria may remain effective for as 
long as 22 days, or may become ineffective after 24 hours, 
depending on conditions.  Under normal conditions, B.T. products 
are active for three to seven days after spraying.  In 
comprehensive spray programs on some crops, repeated application 
is recommended at regular intervals.

  B.T. is available in local nurseries disguised as _Thuricide_, 
_Dipel_, _Bactus_, _Biological Worm Control_, _Leptox_, _SOK_, 
_Novabac_, or _Tribacture_.  Since B.T. is such an effective 
plant-damage deterrent, it should be spread around - especially on 
the surface of leaves.  This can be accomplished by adding a 
teaspoon of liquid soap per gallon of spray mixed.  The soap 
breaks the surface tension on the leaf's surface and allows the 
B.T. product to spread evenly.  This allows more leaf area to have 
B.T.'s protection.

  So now you can rid plants of those devastating worms without 
endangering you or your environment, a truly an Earth-Kind (tm) 
practice.

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NOTE:  After the article there was a box containing pictures of
the following insects/larvae:

Tomato hornworm, Spotted cucumber beetle, Green stinkbug, Squash bug,
Aphid, Cabbage looper, Squash vine borer, Spider mite, Leaf miner.

  Not sure whether or not this was a reference for identifying insects
or a listing of the insects affected by B.T., but I thought I should
include it (four out of the nine listed *would* be affected as they
are caterpillars).

Enjoy!!


-=< * BB * >=-


... Celery sticks.  Ok, but to what?
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