Utilization of a behavioral monitoring device to analyze movement and predict mortality in Tenebrio molitor exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin

Bacillus thuringiensis toxin is a commonly used method of pest management. Bt binds to specific stomach receptors and breaks down the stomach lining of immature insect larvae, eventually leading to mortality through starvation and infection. At different doses of Bt toxin, mortality occurs within a range of several days to over a week, often not identified until the larvae are actually deceased. Using the Zantiks behavioral monitoring unit, we are able to analyze the movement of young mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae inoculated with Bt toxin and can predict their mortality quicker, monitoring the success of the toxin on a larval community faster than current methods.