EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES TO EVALUATE SPRAY APPLICATIONS OF A MYCOINSECTICIDE AGAINST THE RICE GRASSHOPPER, HIEROGLYPHUS-DAGANENSIS, IN NORTHERNBENIN

Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of spray appli cations of a mycoinsecticide against the rice grasshopper, Hieroglyphu s daganensis, in northern Benin. The experiments were designed to expa nd on previous evaluation studies and contribute to a better understan ding of the overall impacts of mycoinsecticide applications. The first experiment showed that acquisition of spores from the spray residue h ad a significant effect on mortality rate and a greater single influen ce on mortality than direct contact with spores from the spray aerosol . The second and third experiments revealed the mycoinsecticide to hav e sub-and pre-lethal effects, causing a significant reduction in per c apita feeding rate and increasing susceptibility to predation. The sig nificance of these results for the overall impact of spray application s and for development of comprehensive evaluation methods are discusse d.