VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN BROWN-WINGED GREE N BUG, PLAUTIA-STALI (HEMIPTERA, PENTATOMIDAE)

Virus-like particles were isolated from the Brown-Winged Green Bug, Fl autia stali. Diseased nymphs revealed typical symptoms of virus infect ion. Re-infection of healthy nymphs with haemolymph of diseased nymphs resulted in typical disease symptoms. Infected nymphs died within sev eral days with severe symptoms. The haemolymph maintained virulence fo r nymphs after filtration of 0.22-mu m pore size and after serial pass age through nymphs. One opalescent band was seen after sucrose density -gradient centrifugation. The band had virulence to nymphs and contain ed spherical particles estimated about 30 nm in diameter by electron m icroscopy. These results indicated that the particles are a virus.