The preservation of infective spores of Nosema necatrix (Protozoa: Microsporida) in Spodoptera exempta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) by lyophilization

Cadavers of Spodoptera exempta infected with Nosema necatrix were lyophilized. The lyophilized material was tested against a standard spore preparation 1 day after lyophilization and retested 2 yr later. There was some loss of spore viability. The feasibility of using dose-mortality experiments to estimate the loss in viability is discussed.