Method of Isolating Strains of the Lymantria Dispar Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

Agency:

Forest Service

This viral isolate invention facilitates commercial scale production of the Lymantria dispar Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (LdMNPV), Making it available for widespread use as a gypsy moth control agent. The virus represents a significant improvement over chemical insecticides and Bacillus thuringiensis because it is specific for the gypsy moth and consequently has no non-target effects. In addition, since the virus is a biological agent, there is no ground or water contamination as occurs with chemical insecticides. Overall, use of the virus will allow the selective removal of gypsy moths from a treatment area with no detrimental impact on the ecosystem. There are no known detrimental impacts associated with the use of LdMNPV as a gypsy moth control agent. LdMNPV has been registered by the Forest Service with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a gypsy moth control agent. This invention describes an economic and efficient method for the production and isolation of LdMNPV. LdMNPV, although a choice agent for gypsy moth control, could not be produced in an economically-feasible fashion prior to the invention of this selection technique. Thus, this invention represents a large step toward the selective control and/or eradication of gypsy moth infestations.

Reference:

Please refer to Patent Number 5,853,982, which issued December 29, 1998.

Inventor:

James M. Slavicek Forestry Sciences Lab Delaware, Ohio 43015 (740) 368-0033