Question 1

How well does this work on fungus gnats?  I have to water every day and the yellow sticky flags can't keep up.  Thank you

Accepted Answer

There are different subspecies of Bacillus thuringiensis, and they each kill different things. Bt is very specific. This product contains Btk, which is Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki. It kills caterpillars, i.e., the larvae of butterflies and moths. It won't kill fungus gnats. You want Bti, Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis. Bti kills the maggots of a certain subfamily of flies that includes mosquitoes, black flies, and fungus gnats. Some products that contain Bti are Gnatrol, which is a powder, and Mosquito Dunks/Mosquito Bits, which come carried on chunks of stuff made of corn. The specificity of Bt is what makes it excellent for people who have concerns about the environment and don't want to kill bees, worms, and other beneficial creatures, but it also limits its use. You can't spray it and expect it to kill all the bugs it makes contact with the way that many synthetic chemical pesticides do. You need to know what you want to kill and get the right formula for it.

Question 2

Will this product harm our medicinal herbs? I don't want to spray if all of my flowers will die..we'd rather be stuck plucking the little %$&#ers....

Accepted Answer

The description here on Amazon says it’s safe..  But the directions on the bottle say it’s poison.  It says harmful to people and animals, and to wash hands thoroughly after any contact.  Now I’m wondering is I can spray my tomatoes.

Question 3

How long will a bottle last and retain it's effect last if stored correctly?

Accepted Answer

This bottle of BT is a concentrate, so you'll need to mix the appropriate amount from the bottle in another sprayer-type applicator (the amount of BT to use depends on the capacity of your sprayer).  During the active growing period, the label recommends application once per week or after rain for best caterpillar control.  I personally have used this product before, and it lasted a long time when capped and stored out of extreme heat/cold.  The amount you'll use will depend also on the size of your garden.  This stuff will keep the common cabbage loopers and tomato hornworms OUT of your produce, along with other common lepidoptera larvae.

Question 4

How much per gallon?

Accepted Answer

We recommend mixing 1 tablespoon of concentrate per gallon of water.

ASIN	B00GVKZG8E
Active Ingredients	Bacillus Thuringiensis subspecies Kurstaki strain SA-12 solids, spores, and Lepidopteran active toxins 98.35%, Other Ingredients 1.65%
Best Sellers Rank	#6,836 in Patio, Lawn & Garden ( See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden ) #55 in Insect & Pest Repellent Spray Concentrates
Brand Name	Safer
Customer Reviews	4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,092)
Global Trade Identification Number	00024654516304
Included Components	Safer Caterpillar Killer Multiple Insects 16 Oz
Item Form	Liquid
Item Type Name	Safer Brand 5163 Caterpillar Killer II Concentrate, 16 oz
Item Weight	1.02 Pounds
Liquid Volume	16 Fluid Ounces
Manufacturer	Safer
Model Number	5163-6
Part Number	5163-6
Target Species	Insects
UPC	024654516304
Unit Count	16.0 Fluid Ounces
Warranty Description	Warranty

Safer Brand Caterpillar Killer II Concentrate - OMRI Listed for Organic Use - Organic Insect Killer - 16 fl oz bottle - 5163-6

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