title: Differential crop damage by healthy and nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae: a field examination.
abstract: Baculovirus infection in Lepidoptera can alter both larval mobility and feeding rates, which can in turn affect pathogen transmission and dispersal in the field. We compared the damage to cabbage plants in the field caused by healthy and nucleopolyhedrovirus-infected Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae released as second and fourth instars. There was no significant difference in plant consumption by healthy and infected larvae for the first 4 days after release. From day 5 onwards, infected larvae caused significantly less defoliation. This pattern was similar for larvae at both larval instars. Defoliation was greater for fourth instars throughout the experiment.
authors.affiliation: Ecology and Biocontrol Group, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Mansfield Road, OX1 3SR, Oxford, UK. simao@ufpe.br
authors.forename: Simão D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Rosie S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hails
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Speight
authors.forename: Jenny S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cory
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001937:Brassica / Q000382:microbiology*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000382:microbiology*; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000821:virology*; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological