Nosema locustae | |
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Species: | N. locustae
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Binomial name | |
Nosema locustae Canning, 1953
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Nosema locustae is a microsporidium fungus that is used to kill grasshoppers, caterpillars, some corn borers and crickets. [1]
When consumed, N. locustae affects the digestive system of a grasshopper through a buildup in the gut, eventually killing it by creating lethargy and a lack of appetite; [2] it is also transferable from a deceased infected grasshopper that is consumed. [3] In a study done at Linköping University using N. locustae and a central Ethiopian grasshopper species, 55% of the grasshoppers that were not inoculated reached adulthood, while only 19% of the ones that were inoculated did. [4]
The spores are typically applied to a carrier, usually wheat bran, and can be spread through the use of a variety of devices. Typical application is one pound per acre, at a rate of 1 billion plus spores. [5]