Über die natürlichen Krankheiten des Schwammspinners,Lymantria dispar L. (Lep., Lymantriidae) in Sardinien,Italien

Caterpillars ofL. dispar collected 1976 and 1977 during an outbreak of the pest in Sardinia, Italy were infected by a microsporidiosis,Nosema lymantriae Weiser and a virosis (polyhedrosis). In 1976 no mixed infection took place.Nosema caused 14%, the polyhedrosis 3.1% mortality. In 1977 the mortality amounted to 72.5% consisting of 60% microsporidiosis, 5.5% virosis and 7.0% mixed infection. So the microsporidiosis dominated opposite to other reports.