1. 1. The effect of different temperature treatments on the thermal stability of three different baculoviruses (1 GV and 2 NPVs) was compared. 2. 2. The tests were carried out using Diatraea saccharalis (sugarcane borer) larvae as a host for the three viruses. 3. 3. The results indicate a comparable stability for the different viruses and represents an important reference for storage and manipulation of these viruses when used as biological control agents. © 1994.1912124Bedford, Control of the rhinoceros beetle by baculovirus (1981) Microbial Control of Pests and Plant Diseases, pp. 409-426. , H.D. Burges, Academic Press, New YorkDavid, Gardiner, The effect of heat, cold, and prolonged storage on a Granulosis Virus of Pieris brassicae (1967) J. Invertebr. Path, 9, pp. 555-562Degaspari, Botelho, Macedo, Controle quimico da Diatraea saccharalis em cana-de-acucar na regiao Centro Sul do Brasil (1981) Bol. Tec. IAA/PLANALSUCAR, 3, pp. 1-16Gudauskas, Connerday, The effect of heat, buffer salt and H-ion concentration and ultraviolet light on the infectivity of Heliothis and Trichoplusia Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses (1968) J. Invertebr. Path., 12, pp. 405-411Harpaz, Raccah, Nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) of the egyptian cottonworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Lep: Noctuidae): Temperature and pH relations, host range and synergism (1978) J. Invertebr. Path., 32, pp. 368-372Ignoffo, Laboratory and field cage tests with Bacillus thuringiensis against pink-bollworm larvae (1967) Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 9, pp. 290-295Ignoffo, Garcia, Combinations of environmental factors and simulated sunlight affecting activity of inclusion bodies of the Heliothis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (1992) Envir. Entomol., 21, pp. 210-213Jaques, Stability of entomopathogenic viruses (1977) Misc. Publ. entomol. Soc. Am., 10, pp. 99-103Jaques, Stability of insect viruses in the environment (1985) Viral Insecticides for Biological Control, pp. 285-361. , K. Masamorosh, K.E. Sherman, Academic Press, New YorkLathika, Jacob, Effect of temperature on the infectivity of a nuclear polyhedris virus of Spodoptera mauritia (1974) Curr. Sci., 43, pp. 587-588Lowe, Pachke, Simultaneous infection with the nucleopolyhedrosis viruses and granulosis viruses of Trichoplusia ni (1968) J. Invertebr. Path., 12, pp. 86-92Martignoni, Iwai, Thermal inactivation characteristics of two strains of nucleopolyhedrosis virus pathogenic for Orgyia pseudotsugata (1977) J. Invertebr. Path., 30, pp. 255-262Morris, The effect of sun light, ultraviolet and gamma radiation and temperature on the infectivity of nuclear polyhedrosis virus (1971) J. Invertebr. Path., 18, pp. 292-294Pavan, Boucias, Pendland, The effects of serial passage of a nucleopolyhedrosis virus trough an alternate host system (1981) Entomophaga, 26, pp. 99-108Pavan, Boucias, Almeida, Gaspar, Botelho, Degaspari, A granulosis virus of Diatraea saccharalis Fabr. I. Pathogenicity, replication and ultrastructure (1983) Ann. 18th Int. Congr. ISSCT, pp. 644-659. , La Habana, CubaPavan, Ribeiro, Selection of a Baculovirus strain with a bivalent inseticidal activity (1989) Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 84, pp. 63-65Pawar, Ramakrishnam, Investigations on the nuclear polyhedrosis of Prodenia lituria. II. Effect of surface disinfectants, temperature and alkalies on the virus (1971) Ind. J. Ent., 33, pp. 428-432Stairs, Milligan, Effects of heat on nonoccluded nuclear polyhedrosis virus from Galleria mellonela larvae (1979) Envir. Entomol., 8, pp. 756-759Stuermer, Bullock, Thermal inactivation of Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus (1968) J. Invertebr. Path., 12, pp. 473-474Wood, Granados, Genetically Engineered Baculoviruses as Agents for Pest Control (1991) Annual Review of Microbiology, 46, pp. 69-87Young, III, Yearian, Formulation and application of baculoviruses (1986) The Biology of Baculoviruses, 2, pp. 157-180. , R.R. Granados, B.A. FedericiYoung, III, Yearian, Formulation and application of baculoviruses (1986) The Biology of Baculoviruses, 2, pp. 157-180. , R.R. Granados, B.A. Federici, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL