Host range testing of a nucleopolyhedrovirus of the lightbrown apple moth Epiphyas postvittana
Epiphyas postvittana nucleopolyhedrovirus (EppoNPV) has considerable potential as a biocontrol agent or biopesticide for control of lightbrown apple moth Epiphyas postvittana a pest of horticultural crops in New Zealand and a market access problem in export fruit To obtain regulatory approval for EppoNPV in either role EppoNPV must not negatively impact on nontarget organisms In this study eight nontarget insect species from one hymenopteran and five lepidopteran families were inoculated with EppoNPV at high titre (109 PIB/ml) Larval survival growth rates pupation and pupal weights were measured and larvae examined for EppoNPV Minor differences in one parameter were found in Helicoverpa armigera and Cydia pomonella but no viral infection Growth and survival were compromised in virusfed individuals in only one species Tyria jacobaeae The majority of T jacobaeae larvae had high microsporidal infections and EppoNPV polyhedra were found in only one larva suggesting a very low likelihood of field infectivity