Bt-based Biopesticide for Fire Ant Control

BT-BASED BIOPESTICIDE FOR FIRE ANT CONTROL

The red imported fire ant is a pest in both urban and rural areas. The ant directly affects people, animals and plants (crops). Furthermore, the ant causes indirect problems through its effects on the industrial and commercial infrastructure and the ecosystem. Damage estimates for the US vary from millions to billions of dollars annually across the imported fire ant's geographical range. A recent veterinary survey provided evidence that the beef cattle industry in Texas alone suffered losses estimated at $67 million. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent annually for control of the fire ant.

The main insecticides for fire ant control are organic compounds, all of which are designated as PAN Bad Actors, i.e., chemicals that are one or more of the following: highly acutely toxic, cholinesterase inhibitor, known/probable carcinogen, known groundwater pollutant or known reproductive or developmental toxicant.

Scientists at Biological Targets, Inc. have purified an insecticidal protein toxin from a new strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills the red imported fire ant. A formulation based on this new strain of Bt represents a new environmentally safe insecticide, called ANTi ™, with tremendous potential for controlling a very important pest insect in the US and throughout the world.