Activity of spores and extracellular proteins from six Cry+ strains and a Cry- strain of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki against the western spruce budworm, Choristoneura occidentalis (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae).

We characterized insecticidal activity of previously untested strains of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki belonging to two crystal serovars (K-1 and K-73) against the western spruce budworm (Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman 1967). By testing various components, we demonstrated that spores play a critical role in the pathogenesis of each strain. Spore-free crystals caused low mortality and purified spores were generally not toxic.