POTENTIAL ENHANCEMENT OF THE GYPSY-MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA, LYMANTRIIDAE) NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS-VIRUS WITH THE TRITERPENE AZADIRACHTIN

Second-instar gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), larvae were placed on semisynthetic diet and white oak, Quercus alba L., seedlings that had been surface-treated with azadirachtin and gypsy moth nuclear polyhed rosis virus. Both treatments affected larval development (weight gain and molting) and survival. When consumed together, larvae died signifi cantly faster compared with larvae, which consumed only azadirachtin o r virus. The combination also resulted in lowered larval survival comp ared with that observed when only 1 material was consumed. The combina tion of azadirachtin and virus should result in good foliage protectio n if used against gypsy moth larvae. However, the addition of azadirac htin to viral formulations could also result in less virus being produ ced within the larval cadaver and released into the environment becaus e the affected larvae are smaller.