Virus infection begins in the insect’s digestive system but spreads throughout the whole body of the host in fatal infections. The body tissues of virus-killed insects are almost completely converted into virus particles. The digestive system is among the last internal organ system to be destroyed, so the insects usually continue to feed until they die. Infected insects look normal until just prior to death, when they tend to darken in color and behave sluggishly. They often develop more slowly than uninfected individuals.
Most virus-infected insects die attached to the plant on which they feed. Virus-killed insects break open and spill virus particles into the environment. These particles can infect new insect hosts. Because of the destruction of the internal tissues, dead insects often have a “melted” appearance. The contents of a dead insect can range from milky-white to dark brown or black.
While natural virus outbreaks tend to be localized, virus particles can be spread by the movement of infected insects, the movement of predators such as other insects or birds that come into contact with infected insects, or non-biological factors like water run-off, rain-splash or air-borne soil particles. Many virus-infected insects also climb to higher positions on their host plant before they die, which maximizes the spread of virus particles after the insect dies and disintegrates.
The number of virus infection cycles within a growing season depends heavily on the insect’s life cycle. Insect pests with multiple generations per season or longer life cycles can be more heavily impacted by virus outbreaks since there is a greater opportunity for multiple virus infection cycles within a growing season.
Insect virus from Lin chemical:
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