Summit Disease
(Entomophaga grylli)
| Conservation Status | IUCN Red List |
not listed |
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NatureServe |
not listed |
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Minnesota |
not listed |
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| Occurrence | Common and widespread |
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| Season |
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| Habitat/Hosts | Grasshoppers in the family Oedipodinae and in the genus Melanoplus |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon | |||||||
| Identification | Entomophaga grylli is a zygote fungus that kills grasshoppers. It causes Summit Disease, one of the most common and widespread diseases of grasshoppers worldwide. It is not a single species but a species complex. Summit Disease causes the infected grasshopper to crawl to the top of a plant shortly before death. The grasshopper dies with its head pointed upward and its forelegs tightly wrapped around the plant stalk. The dead grasshopper remains in there for several days. These symptoms are easy to recognize in the field and are unique to E. grylli. There are three generally recognized pathotypes, two of which are native to North America. Pathotype 1, E. macleodii infects grasshoppers in the subfamily Oedipodinae (band-winged grasshoppers). Pathotype 2, E. calopteni infects grasshoppers in the genus Melanoplus. Pathotype 3, E. praxibuli, is native to Australia and was introduced into North America. It infects both Oedipodinae and Melanoplus grasshoppers. Thus, it is not possible to determine in the field which fungus caused the grasshopper’s demise. Entomophaga grylli has been investigated for its potential as a natural control of crop-damaging grasshoppers. |
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| Distribution |  |
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| Taxonomy | Division: |
Zoopagomycota (Zygote Fungi) |
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Subdivision: |
Entomophthoromycotina |
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Class: |
Entomophthoromycetes |
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Order: |
Entomophthorales (insect destroyers) |
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Family: |
Entomophthoraceae |
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Genus: |
Entomophaga |
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| Synonyms | Conidiobolus grylli Empusa grylli |
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| Common Names |
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| Alfredo Colon | |||
Carolina grasshopper nymph killed by Summit Disease |
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| Other Videos | |||
| Zombie Grasshoppers Killed By Parasite Fungi (Entomophthora grylli) DJ's Nature Planet |
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About
Sep 15, 2019 This species of Entomophthora-parasite fungus is called the summit disease and it attacks and kills grasshopper. When the air stays humid for a longer period during the summer the fungi then spreads rapidly. |
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| Entomophaga grylli カビに操られてゾンビ化し高い場所で死んだバッタ betelgeuse |
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About
Aug 16, 2013 2013-08-16 at Yamadera Risshakuji Temple 山形県、立石寺（山寺） |
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| Visitor Sightings | ||||
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/5/2019 |
Location: Woodbury, Minnesota |
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Created: 10/28/2020
Last Updated: