Left over insecticide?

[AshyLlama12]

I recently had to battle some new caterpillars on my lettuce so I purchased a bottle of Bacillus Thuringiensis that needed to be diluted. Once diluted it says to use the mixture in 24 hours but it made waaaay more than I needed. I can’t dump it down the drain and I can’t use it up so what do I do with it now? Any idea how I am supposed to safely dispose?

 

[Chuck]

I recently had to battle some new caterpillars on my lettuce so I purchased a bottle of Bacillus Thuringiensis that needed to be diluted. Once diluted it says to use the mixture in 24 hours but it made waaaay more than I needed. I can’t dump it down the drain and I can’t use it up so what do I do with it now? Any idea how I am supposed to safely dispose?

Just pour it on the ground. It is not toxic to anything except caterpillars and it is derived from a naturally occurring soil bacteria. It totally harmless.

 

[AshyLlama12]

Just pour it on the ground. It is not toxic to anything except caterpillars and it is derived from a naturally occurring soil bacteria. It totally harmless.

Wonderful, thank you!

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Excellent to see someone concerned for safe disposal. Wish there were more like you, Sir.

 

[Meadowlark]

I was going to suggest since you are in Texas find a fire ant mound and dispose of it there.... but "Scientists fed Bacillus thuringiensis and two other bacteria to fire ants, then dissected the ants to see if the microorganisms passed into their digestive systems. They did not."

So, Chuck has the best approach.

 

[AshyLlama12]

Oh wow, too bad though. That would have been an awesome and easy solution to ants! For whatever reason in my are we have a huge abundance of wolf spiders. And they get MASSIVE. Like the size of my palm massive. I’ve gotten used to them though haha and they keep most other bugs in check

 

[robertsilver]

I recently had to battle some new caterpillars on my lettuce so I purchased a bottle of Bacillus Thuringiensis that needed to be diluted. Once diluted it says to use the mixture in 24 hours but it made waaaay more than I needed. I can’t dump it down the drain and I can’t use it up so what do I do with it now? Any idea how I am supposed to safely dispose?

Great answer from @Chuck and I can't say anything further but to add that it's a common misconception that Bacillus Thuringiensis isn't safe. Well, it's a pesticide and that alone prompts the need for a safe disposal, which is kinda good coz you care for the environment.

So yeah, the Bt is totally safe and only toxic to caterpillars and critters that may be harmful to your lettuce and garden as a whole. The pesticide is actually very safe for other garden friendly insects like the ladybugs.

Also, for future preventive measures against caterpillars, I'd advise you to complement your garden with plants known to repel caterpillars e.g. peppermint, sage, lavender, and mugwort. It's their smell that keeps off the caterpillars whilst making your garden smell good.