Two types of virus-like particles in the bean leaf beetle,Cerotoma trifurcata

Two types of virus-like particles were observed in the cytoplasm of hemocytes of the bean leaf beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata. The polyhedral particles were 37–40 nm in diameter and were usually in a crystalline array. They were often associated with granular and laminated structures. The enveloped, spherical particles were 70–75 nm in diameter and were composed of three parts: an outer envelope, a central electron-dense core, and an electron-lucent space between the envelope and the central core. The envelope was similar in structure to the membranes of the cell organelles. These particles were also associated with granular and filamentous structures which were distinct from those associated with the nonenveloped, smaller, polyhedral particles. The nonenveloped particles were recovered in large amounts from partially purified preparations from beetles that contained the particles in thin sections and from soybean loopers, Pseudoplusia includens, which were injected with partially purified preparations from beetles.