Penetration into caterpillar cells of virus-like particles injected during oviposition by parasitoid ichneumonid wasps.

Particles originating from the ovarial calyx epithelium of two different species of ichneumonid wasp are injected into host caterpillars during oviposition. At 1 3/4 h post oviposition, many calyx fluid particles are either associated with or have oenetrated through the basement membranes surrounding various tissues. Shortly thereafter, apparently intact particle nucleocapsids are observed in both the cytoplasm and nucleus of host cells. An unusual tubular protrusion of the viral envelope appears to be involved in either or both of penetration of basement membranes and entry of nucleocapsids into host cells.