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DITCHLING CORPORATION LIMITED
"Supplying professional Pest Control products since 1964"
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DITCHLING CORPORATION LIMITED
"Supplying professional Pest Control products since 1964"
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What is BTI?
(Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis) is a bacterium found naturally in soils, it has been used in Canada and around the world for many years as an effective tool to combat Mosquitoes and Blackflies.
BTI formulations are now registered for use in Canada in spring and summer months to help reduce Mosquito larvae populations.
They may be of particular interest in regions where West Nile Virus activity has been detected.
How Does BTI Work?
During the spore forming stage of its life cycle, the BTI bacterium produces a protein crystal which is toxic only to Mosquito and Blackfly larvae.
These microscopic crystals are ingested byMosquito larvae when they are feeding. The crystals then dissolve and are converted into toxic protein molecules that destroy the walls of the mosquito larvae stomach.
The larvae usually stop feeding within hours and die within days. BTI formulations are applied directly to the water where Mosquito larvae are present.
BTI Health Concerns
BTI poses little threat to human health either through handling products directly or being exposed to them indirectly. To activate BTI toxins, alkaline conditions that exist only in certain insects' digestive systems must be present. The acidic stomachs of humans and animals do not activate BTI toxins.
There have been no documented cases involving toxicity or endocrine disruption potential to humans or other mammals over the many years of use in around the world. Studies have shewn that even if BTI spores are ingested or inhaled, they are eliminated without any adverse health effects.
The fact that BTI is a naturally occuring, widely distributed organism in the environment means that the most people would have multiple exposures to this bacterium throughout their lifetime, even if they never came in contact with a formulated product.
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