NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS VIRUS TRANSMISSION IN MULTIPLE GENERATIONS OF ANTICARSIA GEMMATALIS (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) CAGED ON SOYBEAN

Transmission of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AgNPV) of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsis gemmatalis Hübner, in multiple generations on caged soybeans was examined. Introduction of primary infected larvae into larval populations on soybean resulted in low levels of mortality in the initially uninfected population in generation one. Larval mortality levels increased in succeeding generations and were higher in treatments with greater larval population density. The increase in epizootic development was much less, however, when the plants were not infested for one larval generation. AgNPV concentrations on foliage and in soil generally reflected the mortality levels from AgNPV in the respective treatments.