ARS | Publication request: VIRUSES IN LABORATORY-REARED CACTUS MOTH, CACTOBLASTIS CACTORUM (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE)

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2006
Publication Date: March 1, 2007
Citation: Marti, O.G., Styer, E.L., Myers, R.E., Carpenter, J.E. 2007. Viruses in laboratory-reared cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Florida Entomologist. 90(1):274-277.

Interpretive Summary: Three different viruses are described from larvae of Cactoblastis cactorum, the cactus moth. This moth is reared in large numbers so that individuals may be partially sterilized by exposure to irradiation. These irradiated moths are then released in large numbers to mate with wild individuals. The progeny of sterilized and wild moths are sterile and this provides control against the westward movement of wild cactus moths, which threaten to move into the desert southwest where they can harm native cacti and local economies based on cacti. However, virus diseases in the rearing facility are preventing the rearing of large numbers of the moths. This article describes three different viruses found in Cactoblastis in the rearing facility.

Technical Abstract: Successful rearing of large numbers of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum, is vital to the success of a control program against this moth. Moths are partially sterilized by exposure to radiation and then released to mate with wild individuals. The progeny of wild and irradiated moths are sterile, thus preventing or greatly reducing reproduction of this pest in the wild. However, several viral diseases of the cactus moth have been found in the rearing facility. The presence of these viruses greatly reduces the productivity of the rearing facility. We provide descriptions from transmission and negative-stain electron microscopy of two different icosahedral viruses and one cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus.