Infection outcome varies from unapparent to lethal.

[1][2] The following genera are assigned to the family:[2] Viruses in Alphatetraviridae are non-enveloped, with icosahedral geometries, and T=4 symmetry.

Genomes are linear and non-segmented, bipartite, around 6.5kb in length.

Translation takes place by leaky scanning, and ribosomal skipping.

Moths and butterflies serve as the natural host.