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Nudaurelia virus. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a strain of the nudaurelia virus. This is an icosahedral (20-sided) RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus which infects the pine tree emperor moth, Nudaurelia cytherea, of South Africa. The virus reproduces in cells in the moth's guts. The larvae of the pine tree emperor moth cause a huge amount of damage to the foliage of pine trees in plantations, stripping large areas bare. This virus has been considered as a means of biologically controlling the numbers of this destructive insect. Magnification unknown. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/DR LINDA STANNARD, UCT)