Nudaurelia B viruses. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through several Nudaurelia B (beta) viruses (NBV). These are icosah

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Nudaurelia B viruses. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through several Nudaurelia B (beta) viruses (NBV). These are icosahedral (20 sided) RNA (ribonucleic acid) viruses which infect the pine tree emperor moth (Nudaurelia cytherea) of South Africa. The viruses reproduce in the cytoplasm of the cells in the moths' guts. The larvae of the pine tree emperor moth cause a huge amount of damage to the foliage of pine trees in plantations, stripping large areas bare. These viruses have been considered as a means of biologically controlling the numbers of this destructive insect. Magnification unknown.

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Size: 5089px × 3799px
Photo credit: © DR LINDA STANNARD, UCT/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, beta, biological, control, cytherea, emperor, insect, moth, nbv, nudaurelia, pine, tree, virus