A novel cypovirus and its dynamics within the host-parasitoid relationship of Campoletis sonorensis and Heliothis virescens

Viruses are constantly being discovered in new roles, with more evidence indicating that they can not only harm a host, but also help it. The polydnaviruses, dsDNA virus found in many parasitoid wasps of the family ichneumonidae and braconidae are blatant examples of beneficial viruses, aiding wasps in parasitizing their lepidopteran hosts. We have discovered two variants of a novel virus, in the genus cypovirus, which have the potential to interact with the polydnavirus in new and interesting ways. This dsRNA virus is present in the polydnavirus containing parasitoid wasp Campoletis sonorensis, as well as the host Heliothis virescens. It causes mortality in the parasitoid wasp, while the H. virescens colony, the source of the cypovirus, suffers minimal effect. We believe that H. virescens tolerates the presence of this virus at very little cost, serving as a conduit for a potentially lethal viral infection in C. sonorensis.