| Foliage consumption by nymphs and adults of the grasshopper Rhammatocerus schistocercoides Rehn infected with the fungus Metarhizium flavoviride Gams & Rozsypal was evaluated. Sixth and eighth instar nymphs and female adults consumed on average (±SEM) 6.9 ± 0.36 cm² (60.7 ± 2.92 mg of dry matter), 11.0 ± 1.35 cm² (74.9 ± 9.24 mg d.m.), and 16.0 ± 0.50 cm² (126.5 ± 6.35 mg d.m.) of sugarcane leaves per day, equivalent to 85.4, 35.9 and 41.9% of the insect body weights, respectively. Eighth instar nymphs and female adults inoculated with M. flavoviride (5,000 conidia / insect) ingested less food from day three onward and showed at day 10 an average consumption 74.5 and 45.6% lower than control insects, respectively. Adult females topically treated... |
