Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) material of the armyworm
Mythimna (Pseudaletia) separata was administered in the form of PIBs and free virus rods to the larvae of silkworm
Bombyx mori. Routes used for administration were topical, intrahaemocoelic and oral. The larvae were treated with following concentrations: 10×10
5 PIBs/L, 10×10
6 PIBs/L, 10×10
7 PIBs/L, 10×10
8 PIBs/L. In all the 3 experiments, the larvae showed neither any signs and symptoms, nor mortality due to polyhedrosis. Thus it appears that the NPV of
M. (P.) separata is safe for the silkworm
B. mori.
Acknowledgments. We are grateful to the Karnatak University, Dharwad, for awarding UGC Junior Fellowship to S.G.D. and for financial assistance made available to S.B.M. We thank Professor M. Appaswamy Rao, Department of Zoology, for providing the necessary facilities. Our thanks are also due to Mr B. Chavannawar for supplying mulberry leaves and to the Government Silk Farm, Hindalaga, Belgaum, for providing silkworm eggs.