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SPECIES RICHNESS, DENSITY, AND DIVERSITY OF GRASSHOPPERS (ORTHOPTERA: ACRIDIDAE) IN A HABITAT OF THE MIXED GRASS PRAIRIE1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Robert E. Pfadt
Robert E. Pfadt
Affiliation:
University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071
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Abstract

An assemblage of 24 grasshopper species inhabited a mixed grass prairie site near Livermore, Colorado. Ten species were gomphocerines, 9 melanoplines, and 5 locustines; the gomphocerines represented ca. 80% of total density, melanoplines 15%, and locustines 5%. Grass feeders, gomphocerines and most locustines, made up 85% of total density. The dominant species was Ageneotettix deorum which contributed 52% of the grasshopper density in 1981 and 37% in 1982. The grasshopper population was at outbreak density both years, 60/m2 in 1981 and 36/m2 in 1982. The pasture had never been treated with insecticide or herbicide. The Shannon-Wiener index of ca. 2.00 indicated a high grasshopper diversity.

Résumé

Un ensemble de 24 espèces d'acridiens ont été trouvées dans une prairie d'herbes mélangées près de Livermore au Colorado. Dix espèces étaient des gomphocérines, 9 des mélanoplines et 5 des locustines; les gomphocérines représentaient environ 80% de la densité totale, les mélanoplines 15% et les locustines 5%. Les consommateurs de graminées, les gomphocérines et la plupart des locustines, comptaient pour 85% de la densité totale. L'espèce dominante était Ageneotettix deorum, ayant contribué pour 52% de la densité des criquets en 1981 et 37% en 1982. La population de criquets a atteint des densités épidémiques au cours des 2 années, 60/m2 en 1981 et 36/m2 en 1982. Le pâturage n'avait jamais reçu de traitement insecticide ou herbicide. L'indice de Shannon-Wiener, avec une valeur de 2.00, indique une diversité élevée des acridiens.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 116 , Issue 5 , May 1984 , pp. 703 - 709
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1984

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