An insect virus pathogenic to tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens, (F.) and corn earworms, Helicoverna zea (Boddie), was aerially applied to early-season host habitats within a 100 square mile area in the spring of 1990 to evaluate the effect on the first larval generation developing on those hosts. The application methodology, spray coverage, and viral persistence on the major early season host, Geranium dissectum L., are described here. Bioassays of randomly collected seed terminals of G. dissectum, and water sensitive spray cards placed within the test area, indicated that approximately 12% as much virus and only 8% as many spray droplets were deposited on the plants compared to a previous study. Other bioassays on samples collected at various times after treatment indicated that 47% of the original virus activity remained 9 days after treatment, and viral persistence compared well to data previously reported.