Interaction Between Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus-Infected Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae and Predator Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

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Abstract
Laboratory studies established that the Anticarsia gemmatalis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AgNPV) had no direct adverse effect on the pentatomid predator Podisus maculiventris . Microscope examination and bioassay of tissues extracted from predators fed AgNPV-infected larvae for 10-day intervals demonstrated that this virus, ingested in both the occluded and nonoccluded forms, does not replicate in P. maculiventris . Further tests demonstrated that these predators will readily accept and feed upon AgNPV-infected larvae. Feeding studies performed from the 2nd instar to adult stage demonstrated no significant differences in the food consumption or development of P. maculiventris which were fed healthy versus virus-infected prey. Both nymphal and adult predators which had been fed infected prey excreted intact polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB) which were virulent to A. gemmatalis larvae. Adult predators consumed more infected prey than did 4th-instar nymphs and were capable of excreting detectable levels of PIB after a 4-day posttreatment exposure period.