Occurrence and cross infectivity of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fab.

Occurrence of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus was observed on Spodoptera litura during rearing. On inoculation of second instar larvae of S. litura with SICPV containing 1 × 10⁶ POBs/ml, cent per cent mortality was observed with an incubation period ranging from 8–15 days. SICPV was found to be cross-infective to Helicoverpa armigera.