Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a naturally occurring soil microorganism that can be used to control otherwise unmanageable caterpillar populations on fruit and veggie crops. While caterpillars serve a critical role in your backyard’s ecosystem -- in particular providing the food baby birds need to survive -- sometimes populations bloom before birds, wasps, and other predators have populations strong enough to keep them in check. When caterpillar damage to crops is intolerable, a targeted application of the Bt bacteria strain for caterpillars creates a toxic protein lethal to caterpillars, which is especially helpful for saving kale, collard, and tomato harvests.
IN THIS VIDEO:
0:00 Introduction
1:24 Bacillus thuringiensis and how it works to kill caterpillars
2:04 Forms of Bt at your garden supply store
3:23 Common crops where we apply Bt
4:55 Signs you have caterpillars
6:00 How much caterpillar munching is too much?
7:10 Demonstration of applying Bt to kale plants
8:37 Application frequency to control caterpillar populations
9:15 How Bt kills caterpillars
10:00 Balancing backyard ecosystems and harvests
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
Carrie explains using Insect Netting: • Managing Fruit and Veg...
Garden Insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs - Second Edition by Whitney Cranshaw: press.princeton.edu/books/pap...
To follow what’s happening at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture:
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IMAGE CREDITS
Cabbage looper by Everett Dickson: www.flickr.com/photos/dakotaj...
Tomato hornworm by Melissa Nelson, CCUA
Fall Armyworm Larva by J. Obermeyer: extension.entm.purdue.edu/fie...
Caterpillar Leaf Damage by Zia Kelly, CCUA
Black fecal deposits (“caterpillar poop”) associated with tobacco budworm larva (caterpillar) feeding by Dr. Raymond Cloyd: blogs.k-state.edu/kansasbugs/...
Music: www.bensound.com/royalty-free...