A brief review of the past use of baculoviruses for the management of eruptive forest defoliators and recent developments on a sawfly virus in Canada

An overview is presented of the state of knowledge on the use of baculoviruses—a family of virulent insect viruses exhibiting narrow host ranges—for the suppression of insect outbreaks in Canadian forests. Emphasis is on recent investigations using NeabNPV against the balsam fir sawfly and the pine false webworm. Key words: Acantholyda erythrocephala, Baculoviridae, Baculovirus, balsam fir sawfly, biological control, forest protection, insect outbreak, Neodiprion abietis, pine false webworm