Effect of Grasshopper Species, Cage Density, Light Intensity, and Method of Inoculation on Mass Production of Nosema locustae (Microsporida: Nosematidae)

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Abstract
Studies were conducted to increase efficiency of production of spores of Nosema locmtae (Canning) used to control grasshoppers. Average spore yields from individual male and female Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) and M. differentialis (Thomas) were 1.6 × 109, 5.2 × 109,5.1 × 109, and 9.1 × 109, respectively. Yields were 6.3 × 1011, 9.1 × 109, and 8.3 × 1011 spores per cage in cages stocked initially with 150, 300, and 600 fourth-instar M. differentialis, respectively, and inoculated by the standard protocol of spores on lettuce. Dosages of 1.25 × 109, 5.0 × 109, 20.0 × 109, and 80.0 × 109 spores per kg lettuce resulted in respective average yields of 3.78 × 109, 5.10 × 109, 6.30 × 109, and 8.01 × 109 spores per male and 5.54 × 109, 12.03 × 109, 14.34 × 109, and 14.16 × 109 spores per female M. djfferentialis in cages initially stocked with 250 fourth- and fifth-instar nymphs each. Increasing light intensity with 25-W to 60-W clear light bulbs, and resulting temperature increases, resulted in increased average yields of 3.8 × 109 to 6.4 × 109 spores, respectively, per grasshopper. A description of a suitable, inexpensive cage and the overall scheme for spore production also are presented.

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