When it comes to controlling mosquitoes, 'BT' is your BFF

Hello, Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. The biological control agent used in mosquito larvae control buckets popularized by Doug Tallamy is a remarkably safe substance. Bacillus thuringiensis, variety israelensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that only acts on mosquito larvae. There are several companies that make products containing this substance, usually labeled just plain "BT." You can put them in bird baths, watering troughs, or other places where standing water accumulates. They won’t harm pets or livestock who drink the water. Many products are solids, can be broken into smaller pieces, and will last about thirty days. You can change the water without having to add a new one each time. Just search the mosquito bucket site to find out how to make your own low-cost, effective way to reduce these biting, disease-carrying pests.