Infectivity of celery looper (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) multiple nucleocapsid polyhedrosis virus to navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The multiple nucleocapsid polyhedrosis virus (MNPV) isolated from the celery looper, Anagrapha falcifera (Kirby), has a relatively broad host range within the order Lepidoptera. Preliminary tests indicated that AfMNPV was infectious to the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker). The pathogenicity of AfMNPV to a laboratory colony of A. transitella was established. AfMNPV was infectious to A. transitella with an LC50 of 36 polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB)/mm2 of diet surface. Histopathology showed that PIBs were concentrated in the midgut but also were found in the hypodermis, fat body, and tracheal matrix. Malpighian tubules and ganglia also showed evidence of infection. The virus did not cause any damaging effects to the survivors of a sublethal dose (LC50)