Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) is a cornerstone of codling moth (Cydia pomonella) control in integrated and organic pome fruit production, though different types of resistance to CpGV products have been recorded in codling moth field populations in Europe for several years. Recently, a novel baculovirus named Cryptophlebia peltastica nucleopolyhedrovirus (CrpeNPV) was isolated from a laboratory culture of the litchi moth, Cryptophlebia peltastica, in South Africa. Along with CpGV, it is the second known baculovirus that is infectious to codling moth. In the present study, parameters of infectiveness such as the median lethal concentration and median survival time were determined for CrpeNPV to codling moth larvae susceptible or resistant to. In addition, the permissiveness of a codling moth cell line to infection by the budded virus of CrpeNPV is demonstrated by infection and gene expression studies to investigate the complete replication cycle. The high degree of virulence of CrpeNPV to codling moth larvae and cells is of high significant scientific and economic value and may offer new strategies for the biological control of susceptible and resistant populations of codling moth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]