Abstract
Pathogenicity of Bombyx nuclear-polyhedrosis virus (NPV) to 25 species of lepidopterous insects were tested by peroral administration or hemocoelic inoculation. When perorally administered, the virus was pathogenic to Scopelodes contracta, Dendrolimus spectabilis, Malacosoma neustria testacea, Lymantria dispar japonica, Clostera anastomosis orientalis, Spilarctia subcarnea, Philosamia cynthia pryeri, and Dictioploca japonica; but failed to infect 11 insect species, such as Glyphodes pyloalis, Calospilos miranda, Euproctis similis, Pseudaletia separata, Spodoptera littoralis, Arcte coernlea, Spiloma niuea, Spilarctia imparilis, Theretra oldenlandiae, Pieris rapae crucivora, and Papilio helenus nicconicolens. By hemocoelic inoculation, Bombyx NPV was infectious to Chilo suppressalis, Galleria mellonella, and D. spectabilis, but not infectious to 9 species, such as Dendrolimus yamadai, Dendrolimus undans, L. dispar japonica, E. similis, C. anastomosis orientalis, spilarctia sucarnea, Acosmeryx castanea, T. oldenlandiae, and Theretra japonica. An assay showed that Bombyx NPV had retained its virulence to Bombyx mori after passage through Malacosoma neustacea testacea, or Philosamia cynthia pryeri.
