ABSTRACT
The characteristic iridescence observed in insects is also observed in other invertebrates because of the paracrystalline array of the virions. Several icosahedral cytoplasmic deoxyriboviruses generally proposed as iridoviruses have been described in invertebrates other than insects. By 1970 the number of iridescent virus isolates from a wide variety of insect hosts was becoming so large and confusing that T. W. Tinsley and D. C Kelly suggested an interim system of nomenclature modeled on that used for the adenoviruses. In nature, the transmission of most insect viruses is usually thought to be by mouth. In the case of holometabolous insects, the disease usually becomes apparent during the late larval instars, and death ensues prior to pupation. All attempts at peroral transmission of this virus resulted in failure, although injections of virus suspensions into the body cavity successfully induced disease. Injection with purified virions reproduced the disease with typical signs.
