Abstract: A strain of Metarhizium was isolated from a natural cadaver of black cicada in woodland, Ruyang County, Henan Province. The Metarhizium strain was identified as M. anisopliae and named Ma121 based on the gene sequence of ITS1-5.8s RNA-ITS2, morphological and cultural characteristics. The optimum culture conditions, including temperature, light, pH, carbon and nitrogen sources, microelement, for mycelia growth and sporulation of Mal21 were screened. The optimum conditions were determined to be temperatures at 25—30 ℃, pH 7, total darkness, soy powder and peptone as carbon and nitrogen source, respectively, with addition of Mn salt. Virulence of Ma121 to nymph of Locusta migratoria manilensis (oriental migratory locust) was evaluated in the laboratory. For spore suspension at a concentration of 1×10⁷—1×10⁸ spores/mL, the corrected accumulative mortality against the nymph was over 90%, with a LT₅₀ less than 5 d. Therefore, the strain can be used as a potential biocontrol agent against the oriental migratory locust in the field.