CLONED DNA PROBES DISTINGUISH ENDEMIC AND EXOTIC ENTOMOPHAGA-GRYLLI FUNGAL PATHOTYPE INFECTIONS IN GRASSHOPPER LIFE STAGES

Entomophaga grylli is a fungal pathogen of grasshoppers and at least t hree pathotypes are recognized world-wide. Pathotypes 1 and 2 are ende mic to North America while the Australian pathotype 3 had been release d into two field sites in North Dakota between 1989 and 1991. Grasshop pers were collected over the summer at the field sites in 1992 and ass essed for pathotype infection by cloned DNA probe analysis. The three most predominant grasshopper species that were infected (Melanoplus sa nguinipes, M. bivittatus and Camnula pellucida) were assessed for path otype infection with respect to their life stages (nymphal instars and adult males and females). Pathotype 1 predominantly infected grasshop pers in the subfamilies Oedipodinae and Gomphocerinae and pathotype 2 predominantly infected grasshoppers in the subfamily Melanoplinae. Ear ly-instar M. sanguinipes and M. bivittatus had higher pathotype 2 infe ction frequencies, while late-instar and adult C. pellucida had higher pathotype 1 infection frequencies. Cross-infection by the pathotypes did occur in up to 3% of the individuals, on a per species basis, and primarily in later instar and adult grasshoppers. Pathotype 3 infectio ns occurred in later instar and adults of the three grasshopper specie s. Infection of grasshoppers by E. grylli pathotypes is discussed with reference to the fungal Life cycles.