Variable gut pH as a potential mechanism of tolerance to Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis toxins in the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis

Abstract BACKGROUND Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis ( Bti ) are safer alternatives for controlling dipteran pests such as black flies and mosquitoes. The biting midge Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is an important pest of livestock in much of the United States and larval midges utilize semi‐aquatic habitats which are permissive for Bti product application. Reports suggest that Bti products are ineffective at killing biting midges despite their taxonomic relation to black flies and mosquitoes. Here, we investigate the toxicity of a Bti ‐based commercial insecticide and its active ingredient in larval Culicoides sonorensis . A suspected mechanism of Bti tolerance is an acidic larval gut, and we used a pH indicator dye to examine larval Culicoides sonorensis gut pH after exposure to Bti . RESULTS The lethal concentration to kill 90% (LC 90 ) of larvae of the commercial product (386 mg/L) was determined to be almost 10 000 times more than that of some mosquito species, and no concentration of active ingredient tested achieved 50% larval mortality. The larval gut was found to be more acidic after exposure to Bti which inhibits Bti toxin activity. By comparison, 100% mortality was achieved in larval Aedes aegypti at the product's label rate for this species and mosquito larvae had alkaline guts regardless of treatment. Altering the larval rearing water to alkaline conditions enhanced Bti efficacy when using the active ingredient. CONCLUSION We conclude that Bti is not practical for larval Culicoides sonorensis control at the same rates as mosquitos but show that alterations or additives to the environment could make the products more effective. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.