Extension of the Host Range of Nosema locustae1 in Orthoptera

Abstract

During the past several years I have made laboratory and field studies of Nosema locustae Canning (Microspidia: Nosematidae), a pathogen of the fat bodies, pericardial tissues, and neural tissues of grasshoppers. From these studies, along with prior studies by other workers, infections by N. locustae have been observed in 58 species of Orthoptera. In England, Canning (1953, 1962a) reported infections by N. locustae in Locusta migratoria migratorioides (Reiche & Fairmaire), Schistocerca gregaria (Forskal), Melanoplus bivittatus, M. sanguinipes (F.) [= M. mexicanus (Saussure)], M. dazvsoni, Camnula pellucida, and Dissosteira Carolina. Goodwin (1950, 1952) reported a Plistophora in L. m. migratorioides in Africa which, according to Canning (1962a), may have been N. locustae. Steinhaus (1951) reported infections by an undescribed species of Nosema in M. bivittatus and M. sanguinipes that had been sent to him by workers in Montana. In personal correspondence, G. E. Bucher of the Canadian Department of Agriculture at Belleville, Ontario, mentioned studies made of N. locustae in M. bivittatus and M. sanguinipes. Records at this laboratory show that G. T. York, in 1952, found N. locustae in M. bivittatus, and in 1956 R. C. Newton found N. locustae in M. bivittatus and M. sanguinipes. Also in a private communication, R. E. Pfadt of the University of Wyoming, at Laramie, provided information about infections by a microsporidian resembling N. locustae in Aulocara elliotti and Cordillacris occipitalis (Thomas). Other reports of the biology and/or differentiation of N. locustae were presented by Dissanaike and Canning (1957), Weiser (1961), Canning (1962b), and Henry (1967).