The U.S. forest service is planning to spray nine national forests in the
Northwest this spring with Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki to control
the douglas Fir tussock moth. Upwards of 2 milion acres could be sprayed.
   After receiving some concerned comments about the use of an insectide that
kills moths, butterflies and all insects of the order Lepidoptera, they have
added a new "alternative" to their plan to use an insecticide that only
affects the targeted moth, but it is only an alternative. The use of Bt has
not been renounced.
   If the U.S. forest service goes ahead with the Bt plan, beekeepers in the
affected areas could see these results:
1) Greatly reduced population of wax moths.
2) A greater need for pollinating insects and animals since moth and
butterfly pollinators will be devastated.