11.5.1.2 Locusts and Grasshoppers
Locusts and grasshoppers are known to be one of the important phytophagous
insects in different agricultural, forests and rangeland ecosystems of Iran. Dericorys
albidula (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae) is an important monophagous pest of saxoul
trees, Haloxylon sp. (Chenopodiaceae) (Adeli and Abaei 1989; Moniri 1998).
Haloxylons spp. are shrubs found or planted in the desert regions of Iran. In the
past two decades, most outbreaks of D. albidula grasshopper likely developed
mainly due to the expansion of cultivated Haloxylon trees. The main control
strategies for D. albidula are based on the use of chemical insecticides or mechanical
methods. But Metarhizium acridum (as Green Muscle
® which is now licensed by
and produced by Elephant Vert in Morrocco, along with their own strain, as
Novacrid) which applied at the rate of 50 g ha
À1 to control D. albidula nymphs on
Haloxylon in different regions of Isfahan and Qom Province by Farsi et al. (2009).
Experiments were conducted on Haloxylon plantation in which trial conidia were
suspended in diesel fuel and sprayed on nymphs by ULV and electrostatic sprayers.
Plants were subsequently enclosed in cages. Results showed that this product can
control successfully D. albidula nymphs by spraying methods in low relative
humidity (less than 30% RH). Field application of Green Muscle
® on D. albidula
in Halocxylon plantation was successful in controlling pest populations on a large
scale (Fig. 11.3). The other important grasshopper is Esfandiara obesa (Orthoptera:
Acrididae) that feeds on oak in the southwest, Khuzestan Province. Oak trees are the
most important species in Zagros Mountains from North-West to South-West of the
country. In recent years, E. obesa has caused heavy damage on oak by feeding on the
leaves. Despite considerable damage by E. obesa, there was no effective method for
Fig. 11.3 Dericorys albidula infected by Metarhizium anisopliae (Askary, H)
11 Fungal Entomopathogens of Order Hypocreales
453
Locusts and grasshoppers are known to be one of the important phytophagous
insects in different agricultural, forests and rangeland ecosystems of Iran. Dericorys
albidula (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae) is an important monophagous pest of saxoul
trees, Haloxylon sp. (Chenopodiaceae) (Adeli and Abaei 1989; Moniri 1998).
Haloxylons spp. are shrubs found or planted in the desert regions of Iran. In the
past two decades, most outbreaks of D. albidula grasshopper likely developed
mainly due to the expansion of cultivated Haloxylon trees. The main control
strategies for D. albidula are based on the use of chemical insecticides or mechanical
methods. But Metarhizium acridum (as Green Muscle
® which is now licensed by
and produced by Elephant Vert in Morrocco, along with their own strain, as
Novacrid) which applied at the rate of 50 g ha
À1 to control D. albidula nymphs on
Haloxylon in different regions of Isfahan and Qom Province by Farsi et al. (2009).
Experiments were conducted on Haloxylon plantation in which trial conidia were
suspended in diesel fuel and sprayed on nymphs by ULV and electrostatic sprayers.
Plants were subsequently enclosed in cages. Results showed that this product can
control successfully D. albidula nymphs by spraying methods in low relative
humidity (less than 30% RH). Field application of Green Muscle
® on D. albidula
in Halocxylon plantation was successful in controlling pest populations on a large
scale (Fig. 11.3). The other important grasshopper is Esfandiara obesa (Orthoptera:
Acrididae) that feeds on oak in the southwest, Khuzestan Province. Oak trees are the
most important species in Zagros Mountains from North-West to South-West of the
country. In recent years, E. obesa has caused heavy damage on oak by feeding on the
leaves. Despite considerable damage by E. obesa, there was no effective method for
Fig. 11.3 Dericorys albidula infected by Metarhizium anisopliae (Askary, H)
11 Fungal Entomopathogens of Order Hypocreales
453