Potential consequences of field releasing virus infected endoparasitoids

The principal intent of rearing and field releasing of endoparasitoids is to control targeted insect pests. The key objectives of this paper are to demonstrate a need for producing disease free endoparasitoids for field releases, and to show that field releases of a virus infected endoparasitoid such as Microplitis croceipes, may actually harm its field population by infecting it with a virulent virus. The nonoccluded baculovirus of M. croceipes shortens the life span of its hosts, reduces their reproductive capacity, reduces parasitization potential, and thus reduces the value of the endoparasitoid as a biological control agent