Some strains of Bacillus thuringiensis produce proteins that can not kill certain insects such as -
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Hymenopterans
The toxin made by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt toxin) is an insecticidal protein. Different strains kill different groups of insects. NCERT lists three: lepidopterans, coleopterans and dipterans.
(1) Dipterans — Killed by Bt toxin. These are flies and mosquitoes.
(2) Coleopterans — Killed by Bt toxin. These are beetles.
(3) Hymenopterans — Not killed by Bt toxin, as per NCERT. These are bees, wasps and ants, and NCERT does not include them in its list.
(4) Lepidopterans — Killed by Bt toxin. These include the tobacco budworm and the armyworm.
Note: The same question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 14-05-2025 (Slot 2), and a similar question in CUET (UG) 2026 on 30-05-2026 (Slot 2).
NCERT Extract:
Biotechnological Applications in Agriculture – …
