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dc.contributor.authorBlanford, S.
dc.contributor.authorThomas, M.B.
dc.contributor.authorLangewald, J.
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-04T11:22:27Z
dc.date.available2019-12-04T11:22:27Z
dc.date.issued1998
dc.identifier.citationBlanford, S., Thomas, M.B. & Langewald, J. (1998). Behavioural fever in the Senegalese grasshopper, Oedaleus senegalensis, and its implications for biological control using pathogens. Ecological Entomology, 23(1), 9-14.
dc.identifier.issn0307-6946
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/4009
dc.description.abstract1. Thermoregulatory behaviour of the Senegalese grasshopper, Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss), was investigated in the field following a spray application of an oil-based formulation of Metarhizium flavoviride Gams and Rozsypal in Niger, West Africa. 2. Measurements of environmental temperature, wind speed and solar radiation were made in conjunction with measurements of internal body temperatures of grasshoppers from a control (unsprayed) and treated plot using microthermocouples and hand-held thermometers. Grasshoppers were monitored for 4 days from the third day after application. 3. Oedaleus senegalensis utilized a range of thermoregulatory behaviours to maximize body temperatures during periods of low insolation and ambient temperature, and to minimize excessive heat loading during the hottest periods. Preferred body temperature of uninfected grasshoppers was 39 °C, with a range from 24 °C in the early morning to a high of 46 °C during periods of high insolation and ambient temperature. 4. Infected grasshoppers altered their thermoregulatory behaviour and showed a behavioural fever response to the pathogen. Preferred body temperatures of infected individuals were raised to a new set point of ≈ 42 °C. This is believed to be the first evidence for a behavioural fever in response to a microbial infection for any natural population. In the present study, its effects appeared to provide little therapeutic advantage to hosts infected following application. Preliminary evidence from other studies, however, indicates that modifications to host thermoregulation could be a significant constraint to the pathogen and may limit its impact under certain conditions.
dc.description.sponsorshipCanadian International Development Agency
dc.description.sponsorshipDirectorate-General for International Cooperation, the Netherlands
dc.description.sponsorshipSwiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
dc.description.sponsorshipOverseas Development Administration, United Kingdom
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectBehavioural Fever
dc.subjectBiocontrol
dc.subjectEntomopathogenic Fungi
dc.subjectMetarhizium
dc.subjectFlavoviride
dc.subjectOedaleus Senegalensis
dc.subjectThermoregulation
dc.titleBehavioural fever in the Senegalese grasshopper, Oedaleus senegalensis, and its implications for biological control using pathogens
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.description.versionPeer Review
cg.contributor.affiliationNatural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionWest Africa
cg.coverage.countryNiger
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research institute
cg.iitasubjectPlant Diseases
cg.iitasubjectPests Of Plants
cg.iitasubjectDisease Control
cg.iitasubjectClimate Change
cg.accessibilitystatusLimited Access
local.dspaceid99295
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2311.1998.00104.x


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