Persistence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paranosema</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Nosema</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">locustae</Emphasis> (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) among grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) populations in the Inner Mongolia Rangeland,China

Paranosema (Nosema) locustae Canning has persisted in grasshopper populations in the Inner Mongolia Rangeland since spore treatment was applied in 1993. In the treatment year, a 58.32–71.43% reduction of grasshoppers was recorded and 59.26–80.36% of surviving grasshoppers of various species were infected. In the years following application, prevalence of P. locustae varied from 13.65% to 60.71%, demonstrating that P. locustae remains in grasshopper populations for many years. Infection prevalence was more than 60.00% for Dasyhippus barbipes (F.-W.), Bryodema luctuosum luctuosoma (Stoll) and Angaracris barabensis (Pall.) in 1993 but was very variable, ranging from 20.00% to 60.71% over the subsequent nine years. Disease prevalence was 43.72–60.71% in 1993 and 1994 for Oedaleus asiaticus B.-Bienko and Myrmeleotettix palpalis (Zub.) but gradually declined to approximately 20%, where it remained. Persistence of P. locustae in grasshopper populations may be important in keeping densities below economic thresholds for a number of years after application. Handling Editor: Helen Roy.