Viruses of insects

Abstract

Viruses have been identified in a large number of insect species and many have been shown to have a regulating effect on natural populations of insects. Increasing dissatisfaction with the use of chemical pesticides has resulted in a search for biological control agents such as viruses. A number of insect viruses, primarily the occluded viruses (baculoviruses and cytoplasmic polyhedrosis viruses) have been used effectively to control pest species of insects. This review describes the major groups of viruses which infect insects and the areas of research that are being pursued.