Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) 

Extensively for control of arthropods due to:

1. High virulence
2. Low cost
3. Ease of application
4. Narrow host specificity

Defining biological control

The use of living organisms to suppress the population of a specific pest organism, making it less abundant or less damaging than it would otherwise be (Eilenberg et al., 2001).

Based on the 1919 (Smith, 1919) definition of biological control, one of the original descriptions, biological control agents (including parasites, predators, and pathogens) should provide self-sustained control with density-dependent responses to host populations.

‘biopesticides’

What is the meaning of biopesticides? Bio means life and pesticides can be defined as a chemical used to kill pests (as rodents or insects). Microbial agents are often referred to as ‘biopesticides’ and have been very successful in the field of biological control.