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Savage, MN

Has anyone used it? It is an organic pesticide that is effective on insects that eat the vegetation. I can't bring myself to use a spray pesticide like merit next to my bees because they are more important to me. I was thinking of using the BT spray then use merit granular to eliminate drift. I will also cut off flowers to not attract the bees.

7/14/2019 11:27:11 PM

Morgantown, WV

BT is generally used against caterpillars, so I don't know how effective it would be on cucumber beetles which will be your main pest. Additionally, we used it early season (Spring) at the organic farm and I can say that it is a pain in the butt to use properly, as it is not systemic, and will need to be re-applied after every rainfall to remain effective.

7/15/2019 6:38:42 AM

Bethlehem CT

Bt will only work on lepidopteran insects (moths or butterflies) that are in the larval stage. (caterpillar) It won't work on squash bugs or cucumber beetles, it may work on vine borers if you can get it on the eggs. When the larva hatch they may get some bt on them and they will die over a period of a few days. The merit granular would probably do the same thing. If you do choose to spray carefully in the evening. I would think your bees will be safe. The most conservative bet is to remove the flowers that will open the next day. But remember it is unlikely that the flower will not have pesticide in it, because it is closed (sealed)the night before it opens.

7/15/2019 6:50:07 AM

Bethlehem CT

I use bt on my brassicas. It controls the european cabbage moth very well. Other than that It doesn't have much use. It will work on corn earworms if you get it on the newly formed silk. Gardens alive sells bt injectors to use on already infested squash vines. At that point you might as well just do surgery and pull the little grub out.

7/15/2019 6:53:46 AM

Bethlehem CT

I meant to say it is unlikely that the flower will have pesticide in it as it is sealed.

7/15/2019 6:58:08 AM

Savage, MN

I am focusing on killing SVB because I found like 20 eggs on my plants and saw two SVB. My traps haven't caught any and I haven't seen any cuke beetles. I have no problem re applying the BT but if you don't think it will kill the SVB larva then I won't use it. /my problem is if I miss a flower I heard some systemics can flow through the plant and into the flower. My plants are small so this won't be a problem but it does concern me.

7/15/2019 8:33:43 AM

Bethlehem CT

It will kill them..You just have to get really good coverage especially underneath the canopy on the vines.

7/15/2019 2:00:12 PM

Bethlehem CT

I have a duster that I use to put bt on with. It works great and the coverage is awesome. You could dust right underneath the canopy beautifully with it.
https://www.amazon.com/Plantmates-76900-Powder-Mill-Applicator/dp/B0001O001O/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_236_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=52Y825K0N3SV0SCKHV2E

7/15/2019 2:03:07 PM

Bethlehem CT

The dust is cheap too.
https://www.amazon.com/Southern-Ag-Dipel-Biological-Insecticide/dp/B004QJ33UU/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIosa7j8G34wIVgorICh3elgjPEAAYASAAEgIKifD_BwE&hvadid=241629633252&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003409&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11677180201439073413&hvtargid=kwd-10119126653&hydadcr=26612_9892188&keywords=bt+dust&qid=1563213787&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

7/15/2019 2:04:10 PM

Bethlehem CT

I cut and pasted this from a beekeeping website. There are different strains that work on different insect pests. The commonly available strain is the kurstaki. That is the one that should work for you.
There are different strains (varieties) of Bt available that have been selected to control different specific insects. Bt-kurstaki (BTK) controls the European corn borer, tomato hornworms, fruit worms, cabbageworm, cabbage looper, spring and fall cankerworm, spruce budworm, and other caterpillar-like larvae.
Bt-san diego (BTSD) controls early larvae of the Colorado potato beetle.
Bt-israelensis (BTI) controls mosquitoes, black flies and fungus gnats.

Bacillus thuringiensis -aizawai is used exclusively for the control of wax moth larvae.

7/15/2019 2:22:40 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Has anyone used a product called Safer for a pesticide around bees?

7/15/2019 6:06:30 PM