PATHOGENICITY TESTS OF NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS VIRUSES INFECTING THE EASTERN HEMLOCK LOOPER, LAMBDINA FISCELLARIA FISCELLARIA (LEPIDOPTERA: GEOMETRIDAE)

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Abstract
Larvae of the eastern hemlock looper, Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.), are susceptible to a nuclear polyhedrosis virus as well as nuclear polyhedrosis viruses isolated from the western hemlock looper, L. f. lugubrosa (Hulst), and the western oak looper, L. f. somniaria (Hulst). The pathogenicity of these viruses was similar when tested on eastern hemlock looper larvae and it is suggested that the same virus infects the three subspecies. Resistance to the virus did not increase with age; second-, third-, and fourth-instar larvae were equally susceptible. The period from ingestion to death varied with concentration of virus and rearing temperature. Results of pathogenicity tests are given.