Preliminary Field Tests Using a Polyhedrosis Virus to Control the Alfalfa Caterpillar1

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Abstract
The polyhedral virus disease of Colias philodice eurytheme is an important factor in the natural reduction of populations of this insect in Calif. Preliminary field tests to ascertain the possible practical value of distributing the virus artificially in alfalfa fields indicate that: (1) The virus, applied as a spray, can cause infection in and reduce populations of the alfalfa caterpillar; (2) it is possible to initiate an epizootic of the disease in populations of low density (20 to 30 larvae per 10 sweeps), and even these low populations can be substantially reduced by the artificial dissemination of the virus; (3) an epizootic of the disease in a population of caterpillars can be initiated earlier than it would occur naturally, thus curtailing the amt. of damage done the crop by the insect.

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