Detection of Anticarsia gemmatalis Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Predatory Arthropods and Parasitoids After Viral Release in Louisiana Soybean2
Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AgNPV) was released into field plots; samples were then collected weekly to determine the complex of predatory arthropods and parasitoids contaminated with the virus due to attacks on the infected hosts. No contamination was detected on day 1 after the release or at any time in control samples. In the treated plots, the percentage of contaminated predatory arthropods and parasitoids declined from 79% on day 8 to 20% on day 41. In samples averaging 16 m distance from treated plots, contamination increased from 32% on day 8 to 69% on day 27, then decreased to 21% on day 41. The AgNPV was detected in at least six species of Hemiptera, one Coleoptera, nine species of spiders, one species of hymenopteran parasitoid, and two dipteran parasitoids.
Contributor Notes
2 Approved for publication by the Director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station as manuscript number 92-17-6272.