“…The delays between disease transmission and the release of infectious particles known from insect–disease interactions and the decline of parasite through density independent mortality events (such as the effects of ultraviolet light on nuclear polyhedrosis virus persistence) cannot be described by a simple threshold model. However, the effect of disease thresholds and time delays are supported by observations on a range of insect pathogens, including entomopathogenic fungi (Lacey et al ., 1997; Arthurs & Thomas, 2001; Kalsbeek et al ., 2001), viruses (Entwistle et al ., 1983; Woods et al ., 1991; Kukan & Myers, 1997; Hernandez‐Crespo et al ., 1999) nematodes (Campbell et al ., 1998; Mracek & Sturhan, 2000) and Microsporidia (Canning, 1982; Cossentine & Lewis, 1986, 1988; Maddox, 1987; Becnel & Andreadis, 1999).…”