Natural Incidence of Metarhizium flavoviride Infection in Two Grasshopper Communities in Northern Benin

The infection of grasshoppers by naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungi was monitored at two sites in Malanville, northern Benin, Africa. Grasshoppers were collected during the monsoon seasons of 1993, 1994 and 1995. At the first site, 982 individuals of 38 grasshopper species were incubated. At the second site, 899 individuals of 33 grasshopper species were incubated. Two hyphomycete fungi (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes), Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Rozsypal and Sorosporella sp., were found infecting grasshoppers. The mean incidence of M. flavoviride infection was 0.3-1.7% at the first site and 1.2-3.2% at the second site for all grasshopper species. Sorosporella sp. was only collected from two grasshopper individuals in 1993. The majority of infected species had adult quiescence or continuously reproducing life cycles, and were either arboricolous or terricolous. Comparisons are made with a previous study of the two sites performed during 1992.

Keywords:

• Metarhizium Flavoviride
• Sorosporella Sp.
• Grasshoppers
• Benin
• Africa