Transovum Transmission of a Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus of the Fall Webworm, Hyphantria cunea DRURY (Lepidoptera : Arctiidae)

Abstract

The transovum transmission of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of Hyphantria cunea occurred in both field and laboratory conditions when female moths were treated with viral paste, viral suspension or a mixture of viral dust and Vaseline. Treatment with the viral paste was most effective in initiating transovum transmission. The incidence of NPV in progeny from treated female moths was higher under field conditions than under laboratory conditions. The progeny from male moths which had been treated with the viral paste were infected with NPV under field conditions, but not under laboratory conditions. The progeny from male moths which had been treated with the viral suspension or the mixture of viral dust and Vaseline were not infected with NPV. Virus treatments to moths exerted little adverse effect on their mating and oviposition behavior, though hatchability was decreased, especially when the female moths were treated with the mixture of viral dust and Vaseline after copulation.