THE EFFECT OF THE POXVIRUS OF THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE), ON MAMMALS AND BIRDS
- 1 September 1972
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in The Canadian Entomologist
- Vol. 104 (9) , 1333-1342
- https://doi.org/10.4039/ent1041333-9
Abstract
Laboratory-bred rats and mice fed heavy doses of the poxvirus of the spruce budworm showed no ill effects and made normal weight gains as compared with controls over a period of 8 weeks, and no deaths occurred in the treated groups. Laboratory and wild mammals exposed to aerial spray in open-topped cages similarly showed no adverse effects. Population densities, fecundity, and other pertinent life history parameters of small mammals and birds were studied relative to treatment of a forest with the poxvirus for control of spruce budworm. There were no observable interactions between these small vertebrates and the virus. It is concluded that, from the standpoint of homoiothermic vertebrates, the virus is a safe insecticide.Keywords
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