Nosema locustae

Definition

A microsporidian species (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) that infects and kills grasshoppers, locusts, and related orthopterans, widely used as a microbial biological control agent against rangeland and crop pests. The pathogen produces durable spores that, when ingested, germinate in the host midgut and proliferate in fat body tissues, causing chronic infection, reduced fecundity, and eventual mortality.

Etymology

From Nosema (genus name, Greek nosos 'disease') + locustae (Latin genitive of locusta, 'locust'), referring to the type host.

Example

Nosema locustae was among the first microsporidians registered as a microbial insecticide in the United States, formulated as bran baits for suppression of rangeland grasshopper outbreaks.

Synonyms

• Antonospora locustae (former name)

Related Terms

• Microsporidia
• Biological control
• Grasshopper
• entomopathogen
• Nosema apis
• Fat body
• spore

Usage Notes

Formerly classified in Antonospora based on molecular data, but currently treated as Nosema sensu lato. Not to be confused with Nosema apis or Nosema ceranae, which are honey bee pathogens. The species epithet is sometimes misspelled 'locustae' versus 'locustae'; Canning's 1953 original description used 'locustae'.