Nosema locustae is a microsporidium fungus that is used to kill grasshoppers, caterpillars, some corn borers and crickets.
[1] When consumed, N. locustae affects the digestive system of a grasshopper through a buildup in the gut, eventually killing it by creating lethargy and a lack of appetite;[2] it is also transferable from a deceased infected grasshopper that is consumed.
[3] In a study done at Linköping University using N. locustae and a central Ethiopian grasshopper species, 55% of the grasshoppers that were not inoculated reached adulthood, while only 19% of the ones that were inoculated did.
[4] The spores are typically applied to a carrier, usually wheat bran, and can be spread through the use of a variety of devices.
Typical application is one pound per acre, at a rate of 1 billion plus spores.