Two cell lines have been established from explants of ovarioles excised from chrysalids of the Lepidopteran Spodoptera littoralis Boiduval, an important pest for crops. The susceptibility of the 2 cell lines for Densorviruses and Baculoviruses, both used in biological control has been demonstrated thus allowing pathological investigations thus far limited by the absence of permissive in vitro systems. © 1984 Lavoisier Abonnements.