1. Activated 6-endotoxins from Bacillus thuringiensis strains toxic to lepidopteran larvae inhibit K+-dependent accumulation of amino acids into brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from the midgut of the susceptible species Bombyx mori. 2. The activated toxins interfere with the K+-dependent uptake of histidine into BBMV only if they are effectively active in 3. To calculate IC50 values (the toxin concentration which determines 50%, of the effect), dose response curves were performed for each toxin. The values obtained correlate well with the LD50 determined by bioassay. 4. This amino acid inhibition test could represent a rapid (36 hr, compared to 3 4 days for bioassay) and sensitive method for the screening of larvicidal activity of known or new recombinant delta-endotoxins,