ts because some pests that are highly effected rarely get a chance to eat it, such as the codling moth and the corn earworm that tunnel into the plant. Recently the use of additives (stickers, wetting agents) is often useful in Bt applications to improve the performance, making it able to completely cover an area and resist washing of in watering. Since Bt doesnt cause an instant kill some people assume that the pesticide is ineffective after a day or two. This is, however, just a perceptual problem. The Bt infected insects may eat very little or nothing at all before they die. On the other hand, the specific potency of Bt is considered to be highly beneficial. Because Bt toxins dont have a very broad band spectrum, beneficial insects, such as bees, are not affected. This also includes the natural predators and parasites that feed of the insects. Therefore, Bt can use can integrate well with other natural controls when trying to control the pests. In Colorado the use of Bt to control the corn borers in field corn has been mostly stimulated the fact that it controls two types of pests. Corn borers are the natural enemy of the Spider mite. Mite infestations usually occur after the corn borers have been wiped out. The Bt toxin effects both of these pests. Because Bt is safe for humans and wildlife, it has a major advantage over other pesticides. This high margin of safety recommends its use on crops or other sensitive sights where pesticide use can cause adverse effects. The exceptional safety of Bt products makes them useful where exposure to the pesticide during mixing and application is likely. Scientists now have been genetically engineering Bt into corn crops. Plant geneticists create Bt corn by inserting selected exotic DNA into the corn plant's own DNA. DNA is the genetic material that controls the alleles of a plant or animals trait. Seed companies select elite hybrids for the Bt transformation in order to retain important agronomi...
