Modelling the within-host growth of viral infections in insects

► We study the within-host growth of obligate-killing insect viruses. ► We assay four virus strains and fit statistical and mathematical models to the data. ► Statistical analyses reveal differences in the growth rate of the host and viruses. ► We show that initially the viruses grow at a double exponential rate. ► Our mathematical model predicts a decrease in viral yield as dose increases.