Differential crop damage by healthy and nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae: A field examination

• Published in: Journal of invertebrate pathology Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 177 - 179
• Main Authors: Vasconcelos, Simão D., Hails, Rosie S., Speight, Martin R., Cory, Jenny S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-02-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Baculovirus; Biological and medical sciences; Biological control; Biopesticide; Brassica; Brassica - microbiology; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; cabbage; Cabbage moth; Control; crop damage; Crops, Agricultural - microbiology; defoliation; Feeding rates; food intake; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; insect viruses; instars; larvae; Leaf consumption; Lepidoptera; Lepidoptera - virology; Mamestra brassicae; Mamestra brassicae multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus; Noctuidae; Nucleopolyhedrovirus - physiology; Pest Control, Biological; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; phytophagous insects; Protozoa. Invertebrates; Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys; viral insecticides; England; Leaf consumption; Cabbage moth; Baculovirus; Biopesticide; Feeding rates; Nucleopolyhedrovirus; Entomopathogen; Insecta; Biological control; Brassica oleracea var. capitata; Pest; Microbiological control; Baculoviridae; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Damage; Virus; Infection; Larva; Vegetable crop; Food intake; Arthropoda; Lepidoptera; Spermatophyta; Noctuidae; Invertebrata; Comparative study; Mamestra brassicae
• ISSN: 0022-2011; 1096-0805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2005.01.002

Baculovirus infection in Lepidoptera can alter both larval mobility and feeding rates, which can in turn affect pathogen transmission and dispersal in the field. We compared the damage to cabbage plants in the field caused by healthy and nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected
Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae released as second and fourth instars. There was no significant difference in plant consumption by healthy and infected larvae for the first 4 days after release. From day 5 onwards, infected larvae caused significantly less defoliation. This pattern was similar for larvae at both larval instars. Defoliation was greater for fourth instars throughout the experiment.