The Effect of Temperature on the Development of Sericesthis Iridescent Virus

Abstract

Development of Sericesthis iridescent virus (SIV) in larvae and prepupae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella is very sensitive to temperature. The optimum for SIV growth is 22°C in the wax moth, but it is probably slightly higher in the scarab Sericesthis pruinosa. SIV is not normally produced in wax moth prepupae at temperatures above 30°C and production of neither viral protein nor nucleic acid was detected at 35°C.