NATURAL INCIDENCE OF METARHIZIUM FLAVOVIRIDE INFECTION IN 2 GRASSHOPPER COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN BENIN

The infection of grasshoppers by naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungi was monitored at two sites in Malanville, northern Benin,, Afric a. Grasshoppers were collected during the monsoon seasons of 1993, 199 4 and 1995. At the first site, 982 individuals of 38 grasshopper speci es were incubated. At the second site, 899 individuals of 33 grasshopp er species were incubated. Two hyphomycete fungi (Deuteromycotina: Hyp homycetes), Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Rozsypal and Sorosporella sp., were found infecting grasshoppers. The mean incidence of M. flav oviride infection was 0.3-1.7% at the first site and 1.2-3.2% at the s econd site for all grasshopper species. Sorosporella sp. was only coll ected from two grasshopper individuals in 1993. The majority of infect ed species had adult quiescence or continuously reproducing life cycle s, and were either arboricolous or terricolous. Comparisons are made w ith a previous study of the two sites performed during 1992.