none Viruses from the reproductive tracts of eastern hemisphere (Chelonus near curvimaculatus) and western hemisphere (Chelonus insularis) braconid endoparasitic wasps were studied. Both viruses appeared similar under negative staining, consisting of rod-shaped, enveloped virions. Efficient techniques were developed for extraction and fractionation of virus of DNA. Both viruses had multipartite genomes, and at least 15 (C. near curvimaculatus) and 12 (C. insularis) different DNA size classes in each were observed after electrophoretic fractionation, respectively. The electrophoretic patterns of the DNA from the two species differed primarily in the higher molecular weight DNA forms. The results provide the necessary foundation for more extensive experiments on the effects of these viruses on the physiology of the wasps' larval hosts.