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Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israeliensis and living soil

hamstring

Well-known member
Veteran
Just switched to living soil and really liking it. One thing I noticed is many of the soils have fungus gnats and I have been using the yellow sticky pads. I don't want them to get out of control and was looking at Mosquitoes Dunks in my watering can. They use Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israeliensis as the active ingredient . I researched it a small amount and you get some contradicting info.

The last thing I want to do is damage the microbial life I have built up in the soil. Will Mosquitoes Dunks be a problem?
 

moose eater

Well-known member
Premium user
Just switched to living soil and really liking it. One thing I noticed is many of the soils have fungus gnats and I have been using the yellow sticky pads. I don't want them to get out of control and was looking at Mosquitoes Dunks in my watering can. They use Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israeliensis as the active ingredient . I researched it a small amount and you get some contradicting info.

The last thing I want to do is damage the microbial life I have built up in the soil. Will Mosquitoes Dunks be a problem?

I used to use Gnatrol in the liquid concentrate form, diluted for use in soil drench and/or limited foliar spray. It has the same active critters in it as mosquito dunks. I used it in soilless mixes.

I now use Gnatrol WDG, which is the same product, more or less, but in a dried powder form.

I can't swear it has no damaging qualit9es where the microbial community is concerned, but I've used both the products I referenced, off and on, for over 22 years now.

Curious to see what you find out.
 

hamstring

Well-known member
Veteran
I'm using Mosquito Beaters right now which have Bti in them and it doesn't affect soil microbes.
It will only deal with bad bugs like mosquitoes and fungus gnats.

https://bonide.com/product/mosquito-...luble-pouches/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacill...is_israelensis

I also purchased a UV bug light to enhance my bug control efforts.

This one to be exact:

https://aspectek.com/collections/ins...lacement-bulbs

Thanks Trout, I feel better now. Both Mosquito Beaters and Mosquito Dunks use BTi as the active ingredient.

Do yourself a favor an dont google BTi. At least to the layman its confusing.

You get pro BTi papers: https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/36183

You get con BTi: https://www.ecofarmingdaily.com/build-soil/soil-life/soil-microbes/bt-toxic-soil-natures-balance/
 
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