Bioassay for homogeneous parasporal crystal of Bacillus thuringiensis using the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Abstract
A method for determining the toxicity of B. thuringiensis kurstaki parasporal crystal to the tobacco hornworm, M. sexta, is described. Mortality and weight loss data provide a highly sensitive and reproducible bioassay that can be used to compare relative toxicities of crystals from other subspecies as well as toxic components contained therein.