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Where theory meets reality: Viral disease in field populations of forest Lepidoptera

Jenny Cory1; Judy Myers2
1Algoma University College , Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 2G4, Canada and Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

2Departments of Zoology and Agroecology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

Viral disease is a major component of the cyclic population dynamics of some Lepidoptera including western tent caterpillars. Epizootics of nucleopolyhedrovirus and host population subdivision provide an arena in which selection on virulence of virus and resistance of hosts could act. Theory predicts that epizootics should select for host resistance and that viral isolates should respond to this change on a population-by-population basis. Experiments provide evidence that these interactions are occurring but that patterns are weak as compared to other factors that determine the cyclic population dynamics. In addition there is no evidence for induced immunity or selection within a generation of tent caterpillars. The factors that promote the rapid development of NPV epizootics remain a mystery and are the topic of future research.

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