Changing Scenario of Shorthorned Grasshopper Diversity in Agriculture and Forest Ecosystems in Dharwad
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Date
2016-07
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
Survey conducted to study the diversity of grasshopper in different ecosystems revealed the presence of 42 species grasshoppers in agriculture and forest ecosystems. Of the 42 species identified, six species belonged to family Pyrgomorphidae and 36 species belonged to Acrididae. Aularches miliaris miliaris (Linnaeus), Aiolopus simulatrix (Savigny), Chelobora crassa, Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss) and Oxya nitidula (Walker) were reported for the first time from Dharwad region.
Neorthacris acuticeps nilgirensis (I. Bolivar), Gelastorhinus semipictus (Walker), Diabolocatantops pulchellus, Epistarus sinetyi (I.Bolivar), Eucoptacrella ceylonica Kirby, Tylotropidius varicornis (Walker), Leva cruciata I. Boliver, Leptacris sp., Heteropternis respondens (Walker), Oxya fuscovittata (Marschall), Oxyrrhepes obtusa De Hann and Truxalis indica (I. Boliver) were recorded during 1985-86 were not encountered during 2015-16. Diversity studies indicated that agriculture ecosystem was more diverse than forest ecosystem both during 2015-16 and 1985-86. Species similarity between agriculture and forest ecosystem was less during 2015-16 compared to 1985-86. Acrididae was more diverse than Pyrgomorphidae in agriculture and forest ecosystem both during 2015-16 and 1985-86. Among all the subfamilies of Acrididae, Oediopodinae showed maximum relative abundance followed by Catantopinae (2015-16) and Hemiacridinae and Cyrtacanthacridinae (1985-86) in agriculture ecosystem. In forest ecosystem, Catantopinae showed maximum relative abundance followed by Oediopodinae (2015-16) and Oediopodinae, Hemiacridinae and Catantopinae were most relatively abundant during 1985-86 compared to other subfamily of Acrididae
Seasonal incidence of grasshopper revealed that population build up started after the onset of monsoon showers and the adults were abundant during post monsoon period (July-November). In Dharwad, grasshopper population was minimum during April and maximum during September. In Prabhunagar, grasshopper population was minimum during May and maximum during September. Diversity study during different seasons showed rainy season was more diverse followed by winter and summer season.