Acquisition of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus from Tree Stems by Newly Emerged Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Larvae

Newly emerged gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., larvae were released onto tree stems that were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite, sprayed with nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), or left untreated to assess the importance of contaminated bark surfaces in transmitting NPV to newly emerged neonates after an epizootic. NPV mortality among released larvae was related to the degree of contamination of the bark surface and indicates that bark surfaces may play an important role in transmitting NPV, particularly in the year following an epizootic.