Baculovirus IAP (inhibitor-of-apoptosis) genes originated by capture of host genes. Unmodified short antisense DNA oligonucleotides (oligoDNAs) from baculovirus IAP genes can down-regulate specific gene expression profiles in both baculovirus-free and baculovirus-infected insects. In this study, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae infected with multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV), and LdMNP...

An open reading frame (ORF 1) located upstream of the polyhedron envelope protein gene in the Orgyia pseudotsugata multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) genome was cloned in-frame into a trpE bacterial expression vector. The fusion protein produced by this construct was used for the preparation of a monospecific antiserum. Western blot analysis of extracts from OpMNPV-infected L...

Polydnaviruses replicate within calyx cells of the female ovaries of certain species of parasitic wasps and are required for the successful parasitization of lepidopteran hosts. These viruses, which have unusual double-stranded circular DNA segmented genomes, are integrated as proviruses into the genomes of their associated wasp hosts and are believed to be transmitted vertically through germli...

The DNA polymerase gene of the Lymantria dispar multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdMNPV) was cloned and sequenced. The predicted DNA polymerase protein (1113 amino acids, 115.9K) was found to have an amino acid identity of 48% with the corresponding gene of the Autographa californica MNPV (AcMNPV). It contains five domains associated with substrate binding, primase interaction, and...

Trains of 20-ms-duration pulses of pheromone were delivered at rates of 1-33 Hz to antennal preparations of males of Bombyx mori and Lymantria dispar, two moth species with bipectinate antennae. Resolution of rapidly pulsed plumes of pheromone was not compromised by a complex antennal morphology or by moderate changes in wind speed (25-50 cm/s). Fourier analysis of the electroantennograms resol...

An entomopathogenic fungus, Entomophaga maimaiga, was found causing an extensive epizootic in outbreak populations of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, throughout many forested and residential areas of the northeastern United States. This is the first recognized occurrence of this or any entomophthoralean fungus in North American gypsy moths, and its appearance was coincident with an abnormally...

The gp37 genes of the Mamestra brassicae and Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedroviruses (MbMNPV and LdMNPV) have been identified and characterized. Both genes were similar to other baculovirus gp37 genes and to entomopoxvirus fusolin genes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that baculovirus gp37 genes and entomopoxvirus fusolin genes form two distinct and well-separated clades. There was no...

Extracts of post-diapause, pre-hatch eggs of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. were examined for prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH)-like activity using an in vitro assay involving last-instar prothoracic glands (PGs). The eggs were extracted in water, eluted from a low-pressure C18-silica cartridge in 60% acetonitrile, and fractionated on a high-performance, size-exclusion column. The primary ...

Predation is an important factor in the dynamics of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) populations, yet predation rates can be difÞcult to estimate accurately in the Þeld. Biased estimates can result from spatial heterogeneity in risk or from artifacts associated with deploying prey. Here we compare predation rates on freeze-dried gypsy moth pupae afÞxed with beeswax to pieces of burlap withpreda...