Authors: | Vasconcelos, SD; Hails, RS; Speight, MR; Cory, JS |
Year: | 2005 |
Journal: | Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 88: 177-179 Article Link (DOI) |
Title: | Differential crop damage by healthy and nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) larvae: A field examination |
Abstract: | 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. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
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