From:
http://nyjtimes.com/Heritage/News/Mar3103.htm
"BGU Developer of Natural Pesticides to get Prestigious Tyler Prize
Prof. Yoel Margalith, of the department of life sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is to receive today the prestigious Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement at a ceremony in Los Angeles, THE JERUSALEM POST reported.
Margalith is being honored for his discovery of Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) naturally occurring bacteria that is lethal to mosquitoes and black flies. According to the Tyler Prize executive committee, Margalith's discovery "saved millions of lives with minimal environmental impact." Discovered 25 years ago, Bti is an environmentally safe biological pesticide found in nature. Used as a biological control agent, the bacteria kill immature mosquitoes before they begin to fly without harming the surrounding flora and fauna, including the natural enemies of larval mosquitoes. The introduction of Bti has led to the control of many fly-and-mosquito borne diseases, such as river blindness in Africa and malarial infections along the Yangtze River in China.
Created in 1973, the Tyler Prize is the most prestigious award for environmental science, energy, and medicine.... "
B.T is used to control fly larvae on dairy farms and mosquitoes in ponds. Mosquitoes are vectors for west nile as well as malaria.
Another form of B.T. used as a biological control for cabbage loopers. Do you eat broccoli, cabbage? If so it was probably sprayed with this stuff. Tomatoes? It controls tomato hornworms. B.T has been used since the 1970s.
There is information here on at least one use for a dead mongoose.
http://www.stuffemal.com/stuffed_animals/rikkitikki.html
Another is here. (They make good brushes.)
http://www.dickblick.com/zz066/32a/