Summit Disease

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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.

Grasshoppers in the family Oedipodinae and in the genus Melanoplus

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

Common and widespread

Carolina grasshopper nymph killed by Summit Disease

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota