A novel densovirus of Zophobas morio

Abstract

The superworm, the larva of the Zophobas morio darkling beetle, is artificially bred and used commercially as feed for insectivorous animals. Sudden losses in large numbers (80-90%) of Z. morio larvae of a breeder in Budapest required the detection and investigation of the causative agent. Negative contrast electron microscopic investigations indicated that small (~20-30 nm in diameter) virion particles were present in the homogenates of diseased larvae.