Epizootic potential

Hall RA. Epizootic potential for aphids of different isolates of the fungus, Verticillium lecanii. Entomophaga 29 311-321, 1984. 

Nomuraea rileyi (Farlow) Samson has excited interest as a potential biocontrol agent of noctuid pests, particularly of soyabean loopers, for many years (Getzin, 1961) In Puerto Rico it is possible that its usefulness could be increased in times of severe invasions of the common grass worm by artificial distribution (Johnston, 1915). Epizootics are common but occur too late in the... 

Epizootic cycles occur approximately every 5 years. The last large epizootic with a large die-off of rodents (1982-1984) was accompanied by the highest number of humans infected with plague since the urban epidemics of the first quarter of the century. The numbers of rodents slowly recovered to their characteristic levels by 1991, and the stage is now set for another epizootic, with the potential for increased human plague infections.45,46... 

Viral insecticides are typically used in situations where they must compete with chemical insecticides for a market share. Further, they are applied with equipment that was developed for dispensing chemical insecticides. Although they are seldom as efficaceous (i.e. less mortality and slower-acting) as most chemical insecticides, production practices and available equipment require that they be used in this way. Ideally viruses should be used in a manner that facilitates their dispersal potential and epizootic development within and between generations of the insect host. Where cropping practices and pest population size allow this, viral pesticides have been more successful 30, 31). 

---