Many insecticides are currently registered for European corn borer control. B.t. is an abbreviation for the bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis , which is found in the soil. After B.t. is eaten by the insect, the crystal dissolves to release a toxin that attacks the gut lining. Feeding stops within a few hours. The insect gut wall breaks down within 24 hours.
Bacterial spores germinate and invade the body cavity of the insect.
Over 70 different toxins are formed in B.t. crystal proteins. The activity of the toxin in an insect depends on gut pH, the presence of enzymes and reducing agents, and the presence of binding sites on cell membranes. The first use of B.t. products against European corn borer occurred in Europe in 1929. Currently, many commercial formulations of B.t. products are registered. B.t. products are effective against first generation European corn borer, because the larvae concentrate in the leaf whorl of the corn plant and the product is easy to apply.