Oryctes rhinoceros (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) populations suppressed by a baculovirus

The incidence and use of Oryctes virus for control of rhinoceros beetle in oil palm plantations in Malaysia

“…The incidence of Oryctes virus recorded from adult beetles collected throughout Malaysia was generally higher than that reported from other countries (Dhileepan, 1994;AlWler, 1986, 1991;Zelazny et al, 1992), although it did vary between sites. The high levels were probably inXuenced by two factors.…”

“…Oryctes virus was discovered in Malaysia about 40 years ago (Huger, 1966) and has since been introduced into many South PaciWc and Indian Ocean countries, such as Western Samoa (Marschall, 1970), Mauritius (Hammes, 1978), Tonga (Young and Longworth, 1981), Papua New Guinea (Gorrick, 1980), Philippines (Zelazny and AlWler, 1991), and Indonesia and Maldives (Zelazny et al, 1992). The virus infects both larvae and adults of rhinoceros beetle and introduction of the virus to PaciWc Islands led to a dramatic reduction in pest population and palm damage within 1-2 years (Bedford, 1986).…”

Iridovirus infection of cell cultures from the Diaprepes root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus

“…In this control strategy males are infected with a pathogenic insect virus and then set free to seek out and spread the virus to female beetles during mating (Zelazny 1973, Zelazny et al ., 1992). We coined the term “Lethal-Male Delivery System” to represent this strategy and are conducting tests to determine an appropriate insect virus to be used in an area-wide suppression program to reduce the impact of the Diaprepes root weevil in citrus and other crops.…”

Evolution and the microbial control of insects

“…in palm plantations in the South Pacific and countries around the Indian Ocean (e.g., Zelazny et al. ). The beetles are infected by a virus, not a type of baculovirus as was originally thought, which is now known as a nudivirus (Wang et al.…”