Journal of Invertebrate Pathology (1977) 29, 81-87

A.M. Crawford and J. Kalmakoff (1977)
A host-virus interaction in a pasture habitat: Wiseana spp. (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) and its baculoviruses
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 29 (1), 81-87
Abstract: Wiseana spp. are lepidopterous, soil-dwelling, pasture pests in New Zealand. Three viruses, Wiseana nuclear polyherosis (WNPV), Wiseana entomopox (WEpox), and Wiseana granulosis virus, have been found to infect this insect. WNPV, and, to a lesser extent WEpox, have been shown to be effective in controlling this pest to subeconomic levels. It has been estimated that 6 infected larvae/4 m² are enough to produce an LD50 of WNPV for Wiseana spp. Provided that stock movement spreads the virus over the soil surface during the early larval instars, the virus maintains itself from one year to the next at a level ensuring high larval mortality. The fact that total insect control is not necessary in this situation means that a residual larval population can exist in equilibrium with virus to give continued virus production.
(The abstract has been supplied by the author or ISPI and is excluded from the Creative Commons licence.)
(original language: English)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Allan M. Crawford

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
application technology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Wiseana (genus)		New Zealand
Alphabaculovirus wisignatae (entomopathogen)			New Zealand