Which statement about milky spore is true?

Which statement about milky spore is true?

• A. Milky spore is a fungus that infects grubs.
• B. Milky spore products will control Japanese beetle grubs.
• C. Milky spore should be used with grub-control insecticides for best results.
• D. Milky spore has no effect on grubs.

Answer: (B)

Milky spore is a biological control that uses a soil-dwelling bacterium (Paenibacillus popilliae) to infect Japanese beetle grubs. When grubs ingest the spores, they die, and the spores released from the carcasses persist in the soil, gradually increasing infection levels and providing long-term suppression of grub populations. Because of this mode of action, milky spore products will control Japanese beetle grubs over time, rather than delivering immediate, fast-acting knockdown. The control is species-specific to Japanese beetle grubs and won’t affect other grub species. It’s not a fungus, and results depend on establishing the pathogen in the soil, which takes time and suitable conditions. For best results, follow label directions and recognize that combining milky spore with grub-control insecticides can hinder establishment and delay or reduce effectiveness.

Milky spore is a biological control that uses a soil-dwelling bacterium (Paenibacillus popilliae) to infect Japanese beetle grubs. When grubs ingest the spores, they die, and the spores released from the carcasses persist in the soil, gradually increasing infection levels and providing long-term suppression of grub populations. Because of this mode of action, milky spore products will control Japanese beetle grubs over time, rather than delivering immediate, fast-acting knockdown. The control is species-specific to Japanese beetle grubs and won’t affect other grub species. It’s not a fungus, and results depend on establishing the pathogen in the soil, which takes time and suitable conditions. For best results, follow label directions and recognize that combining milky spore with grub-control insecticides can hinder establishment and delay or reduce effectiveness.