Environmental Entomology (1980) 9, 59-61

D.G. Boucias, D.W. Johnson and G.E. Allen (1980)
Effects of host age, virus dosage, and temperature on the infectivity of a nucleopolyhedrosis virus against velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis, larvae
Environmental Entomology 9 (1), 59-61
Abstract: The inter-instar susceptibility of the velvetbean caterpillar to a nucleopolyhedrosis virus was quantitated. Analysis of response curves revealed a 930-fold range in susceptibility between the most sensitive and the most resistent individuals in these larval populations. The LD₅₀ values for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th instars were 103, 432, 682, and 4100 polyhedra/larva, respectively. At 26.7°C the virus replicated efficiently in all larval instars. Virus replication was slower at lower temperatures (15.6°C, 21.1°C) but the cumulative virus mortality at these these temperatures were similar fo that achieved at 26.7°C. Incubation at higher temperatures (32.2°C), however, caused a 30-50% less virus mortality than occurred at lower temperatures.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anticarsia gemmatalis		Brazil (south)
Alphabaculovirus angemmatalis (entomopathogen)	Anticarsia gemmatalis		Brazil (south)