Dateline: October 31, 2014*

How does one control pest species such as grasshoppers and plant hoppers? Often Mother Nature takes over control TO control. Grasshoppers and other pests have some natural predators besides birds, and it isn’t just fauna.

Think PATHOGENS… disease-causing agents! All natural, no chemicals involved. In recent times I ran into two examples of this phenomenon in the form of fungi.
I always knew that a fungus had an important role in the web of life, but in my mind it had more to do with the ability to break down organic materials and provide nutrients rather than helping in our quest to control pest species.

My knowledge base was expanded when I found a grasshopper that seemed content to vogue for hours on end for my camera. Then I realized that the poor thing clinging to the top of some tall dried grasses was actually petrified, as in dead, not merely scared. I didn’t think that some ghost had snuck up and scared the life out of it, so I investigated a bit further.
There is a fungus that belongs to the Entomophaga grylli species complex, which is grasshopper-specific. Often called “summit disease”,

As you can see in the photographs, it is very effective.
Another day I was back by the Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) shrubs and I noticed some type of plant bug sitting motionless. This is not all that unusual as there is even one particular insect that has a common name based on the fact that it favors palms…the Palm Flatid Planthopper (Ormenaria rufifascia). Although called a plantHOPPER, most of the time when I see them they are stationary, and don’t’ seemed concerned with moving all that much.

This pale green looker seems benign enough, as I have never noticed major damage cause by this species. This may also be because I have many saw palmettos sprinkled among a great diversity of other Florida native plants…no monocultures here.
I was taken by a new observation and what I thought was a new type of Planthopper. On closer inspection, I realized that this indeed was one of the Palm Flatids, it just appeared to be in a costume of sorts.

It reminded me of emerald moth caterpillars that don bits of foliage in an attempt to disguise themselves. I figured this was a similar situation. I quickly found out that this creature was not gathering the adornment on it’s own. Something was growing on it.Seems this is one of the Cordyceps species, an entomopathogenic fungus (a fancy way of saying a fungus that parasitizes and kills insects/spiders). While often a beneficial fungus used in medicinal applications, this one does a job in the garden by disabling the planthopper. Natural, environmentally friendly and interesting to observe.

So, if you find an insect that seems to be overly willing to hold a pose, consider that maybe you are observing another interesting phenomenon in which Mother Nature keeps things in balance in your beautiful wildlife garden. Natural biocontrol.

*This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on October 31, 2014 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.
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