Bioactivity of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bacillales: Bacillaceae) on Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) eggs.

Background: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a Gram-positive bacterium that synthesizes specific protein toxins, which can be exploited for control of various insect pests, including Diatraea saccharalis, a lepidopteran that severely damages sugarcane crops. Although studies have described the effects of Bt in the larval phases of D. saccharalis, few have examined its effect on insect eggs.