Nosema locustae (Protozoa, Microsporidia), a Biological Agent for Locust and Grasshopper Control

Effective locust and grasshopper control is crucial as invasions have seriously threatened crops food security since ancient times. However, the preponderance of chemical insecticides, effective widely used today, increasingly criticized a result their adverse effects on human health environment. Alternative biological methods are being actively sought to replace pesticides. Nosema locustae (Synonyms: Paranosema locustae, Antonospora locustae), protozoan pathogen locusts grasshoppers, was developed agent early 1980s. Subsequently, numerous studies focused its pathogenicity, host spectrum, mass production, epizootiology, applications, genomics, molecular biology. Aspects recent advances in N. show that this entomopathogen plays special role management because it safer, has broad spectrum 144 orthopteran species, vertical transmission offspring through eggs, long persistence populations for more than 10 years, well adapted various types ecosystems tropical temperate regions. some limitations still need be overcome efficient future.