ABSTRACT
The Nudaurelia ß family of viruses is a small group all isolated from pest species of Lepidoptera, principally from Saturniid, Limacodid, and Noctuid moths. Prior to the identification of the Nudaurelia ß virus, infected larvae of the emperor gum moth Antheraea eucalypti Scott (Saturniidae) were shown to contain an RNA virus by Grace and Mercer. Juckes et al. demonstrated that the Antheraea and Nudaurelia ß viruses were serologically related. The most recent member of this family of viruses was also isolated from the pine emperor moth. Naturally infected larvae contained a second serologically unrelated virus when infected with Nudaurelia ß virus. The viruses from Nudaurelia cytherea capensis and Darna trima are potent control agents for the larval stages of their respective hosts, and the latter virus has been utilized as an applied control agent.
