Detection of single and mixed covert baculovirus infections in eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana populations

► Covert baculovirus infections were found in both the laboratory and the field population of Choristoneura fumiferana. ► Overall 28% of insects from the laboratory population were positive for baculovirus DNA. ► Individual adults supported both single and mixed covert infections. ► However, the majority of insects supported single virus infections of one virus, CfDEFNPV. ► 70.5% of individuals from the field populations were baculovirus positive and all of these were positive for CfDEFNPV only.