Grasshopper Research Articles

New taxa of pygmy grasshoppers from Australia with notes on classification of the subfamily Batrachideinae (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

The pygmy grasshopper subfamily Batrachideinae consists of three tribes: Batrachideini Bolívar, 1887; Cassitettigini Yin, 1984, nom. resurr.; Bufonidini Hancock, 1907, nom. resurr., stat. nov. The Australian pygmy grasshoppers of the tribe Bufonidini are reviewed. Three new genera are described, namely Paraselina gen. nov. (type species Vingselina multifora Rehn, 1952), Anaselina gen. nov. (type species Vingselina minor Sjöstedt, 1921), and Selivinga gen. nov. (type species Selivinga tribulata sp. nov.). Four new combinations are proposed: Paraselina multifora (Rehn, 1952), comb. nov.; P. trituberculata (Sjöstedt, 1932), comb. nov.; P. brunneri (Bolívar, 1887), comb. nov.; Anaselina minor (Sjöstedt, 1921), comb. nov. A key to Australian genera of Batrachideinae is provided.

Soil insects associated with lucumo (Pouteria lucuma L.) trees in La Molina, Lima, Peru

This study aimed to determine the composition and relative abundance of soil insects associated with lucumo (Pouteria lucuma L.) trees growing in the agricultural fields of the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina in Lima, Peru. In total, 12 pitfall traps were installed in a 5-ha lucumo field and samples were collected on a weekly basis for approximately 4 months (March–June). Insects in each sample were separated into morphotypes, and the number of individuals in each morphotype and date of collection were recorded. The collected insects were then identified at the Entomology Museum laboratory in Lima through comparison with museum samples and with the help of identification keys. Individuals in the orders Orthoptera (families Acrididae and Gryllidae), Dermaptera (Anisolabididae), Coleoptera (Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Tenebrionidae, Scarabaeidae and Elateridae), Blattodea (Blatellidae) and Hymenoptera (Formicidae) were identified. Among the Coleoptera, Tetracha chilensis (Laporte, 1834) (Carabidae) was the most abundant species; furthermore, Staphylinidae of the subfamily Oxytelinae and the families Elateridae (Conoderus spp.), Tenebrionidae (Epitragopsis sp.) and Scarabaeidae (Ataenius sp.) were identified. Additional taxa identified were as follow: Gryllus assimilis (Fabricius, 1775) (Gryllidae) in Orthoptera, Euborellia annulipes (Lucas, 1847) (Anisolabididae) in Dermaptera and Linepithema spp. in Hymenoptera.

Lumières Sonores. A new digital parametric approach for urban renewal of abandoned areas

The paper presents a new parametric approach for the renewal of blighted urban areas through the design and the implementation of interactive installations. Said installations are based on a precise algorithm able to capture the sound waves, emitted by the visitors, and to translate them in light signals. The syntesis process is elaborated with digital computation: microcontroller Arduino for the correlation between the sound impulses acquired (input) and the coloured lights emitted (output); parametric software Grasshopper for the control of the output variability. The digital technological system allows users to customize the installation by tuning the colours and the intensity of the lights. The model designed through such a parametric approach (envisaging these fields: technical and technological; social; economic; environmental) could be implemented in different social and urban context, guarantying versatility, repeatability and sustainability.

Grasshopper Sensitization In Patients Allergic To Crustaceans, House Dust Mite and Cockroach. Should Products Containing Grasshopper Come With A Warning?

We have previously described Anaphylaxis after first ingestion of grasshopper (GH) in patients who had a prior history of systemic reactions after eating crustaceans.These patients also had high levels of house dust mite (HDM) and cockroach(CR) allergy. The common cross reacting allergen was identified as Tropomyosin. In this abstract we report GH sensitivity in patients allergic to crustaceans, HDM and CR. Freeze-dried commercial GH (locusta migratoria) were made into a 1:10 w/v 50% glycerine in saline solution by the usual method. After obtaining informed written consent, patients and controls were skin tested (ST) by the Prick/puncture (PP) method to 1:10 w/v GH, and to 10 k AU HDM, 1:10 w/v lobster, 1:20 w/v crab and 1:10 shrimp extracts. Control patients who had negative ST to HDM, crustaceans, shrimp and crab, had negative ST to GH . Crustacean allergic patients showed 93.2% reactivity to GH. CR allergic patients 64.7% positive ST to GH and HDM positive patients 22.8% positive ST to GH. These results show a high % of ST reactivity to GH in patients who had no occupational nor recreational exposure to grasshoppers , but were sensitized to crustaceans, cockroach and HDM. These patients are potentially at risk for anaphylaxis if they eat GH. Recent reports of anaphylaxis to ingested grasshopper from China and Singapore, and the recent recommendation of the WHO advising entomophagy as a solution to world hunger, indicate the possibility of an increasing incidence of GH anaphylaxis. Should insect containing products carry a warning for allergic patients?

On a collection of Acrididae (Orthoptera: acridoidea) from Rohilkhand region, Uttar Pradesh, India with three new records from the state

Thirty-one species of family Acrididae have been reported from Rohilkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh, India. Out of which three are new records from Uttar Pradesh state. A total of 677 specimens were studied and identified. Maximum number of species were recorded from the genus Oxya of subfamily Oxyinae (i.e., eight different species from a single genus). Maximum diversity was shown by subfamily Oedipodinae.

Grasshopper inspired artificial bee colony algorithm for numerical optimisation

ABSTRACT Swarm intelligence (SI)-based algorithms are performing very well in the field of optimisation over the past few decades. A lot of new SI-based algorithms are being developed. The existing algorithms are also modified, mostly, either by hybridising them with some other algorithms or by incorporating local search techniques. This research presents a new local search strategy based on grasshopper (GH) jumping mechanism. The proposed local search strategy is termed as GH local search strategy. Further, the proposed strategy is incorporated into an efficient SI-based algorithm, artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm. The proposed hybridised algorithm is termed as GH inspired ABC (GHABC) algorithm. The proposed GHABC is tested on 37 numerical benchmark optimisation functions. The results indicate that the proposed GHABC algorithm is a competent approach for solving numerical optimisation problems.

Diversity of Short-Horned Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) from Forested Region of Kolhapur District, Maharashtra, India of Northern Western Ghats

Diversity of Short-Horned Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) from Forested Region of Kolhapur District, Maharashtra, India of Northern Western Ghats

Orthopteran diversity at Keraniganj, Dhaka

This study was conducted to assess the divesity of Orthopteran species at some grasslands and crop fields of Keranigonj upazila in Dhaka district, Bangladesh from April, 2014 to September, 2014. A total of 20 species under 18 genera belonging to 7 families have been recorded. Among them 4 species were more common, 6 species were moderately distributed and 10 species documented as rare. The highest number of Orthopterans was from the family Acrididae 60.58% (10 spp.) followed by Tetrigidae 15.32% (2 spp.), Gryllidae 14.23% (4 spp.), Tettigonidae 10.33% (1 sp.), Locustidae 2.55% (1 sp.), Mantidae 2.55% ( 1 sp.), and the lowest from the family Gryllotalpidae 2.19% (1 sp.). During observation period the number of Orthopterans was highest recorded in the month of May (20.44%) followed by April (19.34%), June (17.52%), July (14.60%), August (14.23%), and the lowest in September (13.87%). Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s diversity index represent moderate value (H = 2.82) and moderately low value (λ = 0.07), respectively indicating moderate diversity richness for Orthopteran species. The value of species evenness (E = 0.94) tends to be higher indicating that the species are eventually distributed.Bangladesh J. Zool. 46(1): 21-31, 2018

Regressions Fit for Purpose: Models of Locust Phase State Must Not Conflate Morphology With Behavior.

Phenotypic plasticity often entails coordinated changes in multiple traits. The effects of two alternative environments on multiple phenotypic traits can be analyzed by multivariable binary logistic regression (LR). Locusts are grasshopper species (family Acrididae) with a capacity to transform between two distinct integrated phenotypes or “phases” in response to changes in population density: a solitarious phase, which occurs when densities are low, and a gregarious phase, which arises as a consequence of crowding and can form very large and economically damaging swarms. The two phases differ in behavior, physiology and morphology. A large body of work on the mechanistic basis of behavioral phase transitions has relied on LR models to estimate the probability of behavioral gregariousness from multiple behavioral variables. Mart́ın-Blázquez and Bakkali (2017; [10.1111/eea.12564]10.1111/eea.12564) have recently proposed standardized LR models for estimating an overall “gregariousness level” from a combination of behavioral and, unusually, morphometric variables. Here I develop a detailed argument to demonstrate that the premise of such an overall “gregariousness level” is fundamentally flawed, since locust phase transformations entail a decoupling of behavior and morphology. LR models that combine phenotypic traits with markedly different response times to environmental change are of very limited value for analyses of phase change in locusts, and of environmentally induced phenotypic transitions in general. I furthermore show why behavioral variables should not be adjusted by measures of body size that themselves differ between the two phases. I discuss the models fitted by Mart́ın-Blázquez and Bakkali (2017) to highlight potential pitfalls in statistical methodology that must be avoided when analysing associations between complex phenotypes and alternative environments. Finally, I reject the idea that “standardized models” provide a valid shortcut to estimating phase state across different developmental stages, strains or species. The points addressed here are pertinent to any research on transitions between complex phenotypes and behavioral syndromes.

Evolution, Diversification, and Biogeography of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

AbstractThe grasshopper family Acrididae is one of the most diverse lineages within Orthoptera, including more than 6,700 valid species distributed worldwide. Grasshoppers are dominant herbivores, which have diversified into grassland, desert, semi-aquatic, alpine, and tropical forest habitats, and exhibit a wide array of morphological, ecological, and behavioral diversity. Nevertheless, the phylogeny of Acrididae as a whole has never been proposed. In this study, we present the first comprehensive phylogeny of Acrididae based on mitochondrial genomes and nuclear genes to test monophyly of the family and different subfamilies as well as to understand the evolutionary relationships among them. We recovered the monophyletic Acrididae and identified four major clades as well as several well-characterized subfamilies, but we also found that paraphyly is rampant across many subfamilies, highlighting the need for a taxonomic revision of the family. We found that Acrididae originated in the Paleocene of the Cenozoic period (59.3 million years ago) and, because the separation of South America and Africa predates the origin of the family, we hypothesize that the current cosmopolitan distribution of Acrididae was largely achieved by dispersal. We also inferred that the common ancestor of modern grasshoppers originated in South America, contrary to a popular belief that they originated in Africa, based on a biogeographical analysis. We estimate that there have been a number of colonization and recolonization events between the New World and the Old World throughout the diversification of Acrididae, and, thus, the current diversity in any given region is a reflection of this complex history.

An annotated catalogue of the types of short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Caelifera) housed in the Zoological Museum Hamburg (ZMH)

Zoological collections remain the main archive of animal life on earth, especially in times of mass extinctions. The most important animals of these collections are the type specimens, which represent the original reference for a species. While a full digitization of most museum collections currently remains utopic, lists of types are an essential resource for researchers to perform taxonomic revisions. Here, we provide an updated type catalogue of the short-horned grasshoppers (Caelifera) housed in the Zoological Museum of Hamburg (ZMH), now part of the Center for Natural History Hamburg (CeNak). This collection comprises 209 type specimens belonging to 128 species: 65 holotypes, three lectotypes, one syntype and a large number of paratypes. We also list topotypes of two species for reasons of completeness but note that they have no formal status. Overall, types of 13 species were added to the collection since the last catalogues in 1968 and 1977 and several corrections to the last catalogues were made. We provide a full bibliography for these species, aiming to provide a comprehensive taxonomic guide to this collection.

Different levels of shade on population of grasshoppers and its oviposition preference on heliconias

ABSTRACT: Grasshoppers of the families Acrididae and Romaleidae (Orthoptera) are among the insects that defoliate heliconias and have been gaining status as pests of commercial crops of these plants in Brazil. The objectives of the present study were to identify the grasshopper defoliating heliconias in the municipality of Santo Antônio de Pádua, RJ (Brazil), to evaluate the effect of different levels of shade on the population of this grasshopper and the production parameters of heliconias, and to determine if this grasshopper has an oviposition preference among the heliconias evaluated. The experiment was in a completely randomized block design, in subdivided plots (four levels of shade in the plot, 0%, 30%, 50% and 80%, and four species of Heliconia: H. psittacorum, H. stricta, H. wagneriana and H. psittacorum x H. spathocircinata ‘Golden Torch’ in the subplot), with four replications. The grasshopper was identified as Cornops frenatum frenatum (Acrididae). An increase in shade resulted in a decrease in the number of oviposition holes from the grasshopper and the number of lateral buds. Shade did not influence the number of C. f. frenatum nymphs and adults and the number of flower stems. H. wagneriana was the most preferred species for oviposition by C. f. frenatum. Results suggested using screens to shade heliconia plants can help control C. f. frenatum populations, however, the light requirements of the heliconias should be considered to guarantee productivity.

A New Record of Genus Heteropternis Stal 1873 (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae) from Pakistan

Grasshoppers belonging to family Acrididae are vital herbivores that can severely disturb the growth of crops, their nutritional values and production rate. Band-winged grasshoppers belonging to genus Heteropternis Stal, 1873 were collected from different localities of Hazara Division during the year of 2016. Heteropternis respondens (Walker, 1859) was recorded for the first time from Pakistan. Additionally, photograph along with line drawing is provided for the first time. Finding of present study will contribute to the biodiversity of Pakistan. Keywords: Heteropternis resprodens, New record, Identification, Band-winged, Distribution, Pakistan

On acrididae (Orthoptera: acridoidea) from Kerala

A faunistic survey conducted on the acridid fauna of Kerala, India revealed 41 species belonging to 30 genera in 10 subfamilies of the family Acrididae. These led to five new records from Kerala. The subfamilies Oedipodinae and Catantopinae were observed to include maximum abundance.

Seasonal incidence of shorthorned grasshoppers in agriculture and forest ecosystem of Dharwad region

Seasonal incidence of shorthorned grasshoppers in agriculture and forest ecosystem of Dharwad region

New Records of Acridoidea (Insecta : Orthoptera) from Punjab, India

Six species of short-horned grasshoppers i.e., Leva indica (Bolivar), Gelastorhinus filatus (Walker), Pusana ruglosa (Uvarov), Eucoptacra praemorsa (Stal), Chondracris rosea (De Geer), Xenocatantops karnyi (Kirby) under family Acrididae and superfamily Acridoidea have been reported for the first time from the state Punjab.

Ecological drivers of body size evolution and sexual size dimorphism in short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae).

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread and variable in nature. Although female-biased SSD predominates among insects, the proximate ecological and evolutionary factors promoting this phenomenon remain largely unstudied. Here, we employ modern phylogenetic comparative methods on eight subfamilies of Iberian grasshoppers (85 species) to examine the validity of different models of evolution of body size and SSD and explore how they are shaped by a suite of ecological variables (habitat specialization, substrate use, altitude) and/or constrained by different evolutionary pressures (female fecundity, strength of sexual selection, length of the breeding season). Body size disparity primarily accumulated late in the history of the group and did not follow a Brownian motion pattern, indicating the existence of directional evolution for this trait. We found support for the converse of Rensch's rule (i.e. females are proportionally bigger than males in large species) across all taxa but not within the two most speciose subfamilies (Gomphocerinae and Oedipodinae), which showed an isometric pattern. Our results do not provide support for the fecundity or sexual selection hypotheses, and we did not find evidence for significant effects of habitat use. Contrary to that expected, we found that species with narrower reproductive window are less dimorphic in size than those that exhibit a longer breeding cycle, suggesting that male protandry cannot solely account for the evolution of female-biased SSD in Orthoptera. Our study highlights the need to consider alternatives to the classical evolutionary hypotheses when trying to explain why in certain insect groups males remain small.

Review of the book by Bernard Suits "The Grasshopper. Games, Life, and Utopia" (in the translation of Filip Kobiela)

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Phenotypic disparity in Iberian short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae): the role of ecology and phylogeny

BackgroundThe combination of model-based comparative techniques, disparity analyses and ecomorphological correlations constitutes a powerful method to gain insight into the evolutionary mechanisms that shape morphological variation and speciation processes. In this study, we used a time-calibrated phylogeny of 70 Iberian species of short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae) to test for patterns of morphological disparity in relation to their ecology and phylogenetic history. Specifically, we examined the role of substrate type and level of ecological specialization in driving different aspects of morphological evolution (locomotory traits, chemosensitive organs and cranial morphology) in this recent radiation.ResultsWe found a bimodal distribution of locomotory attributes corresponding to the two main substrate type guilds (plant vs. ground); plant-perching species tend to exhibit larger wings and thicker femora than those that remain on the ground. This suggests that life form (i.e., substrate type) is an important driving force in the evolution of morphological traits in short-horned grasshoppers, irrespective of ancestry. Substrate type and ecological specialization had no significant influence on head shape, a trait that showed a strong phylogenetic conservatism. Finally, we also found a marginal significant association between the length of antennae and the level of ecological specialization, suggesting that the development of sensory organs may be favored in specialist species.ConclusionsOur results provide evidence that even in taxonomic groups showing limited morphological and ecological disparity, natural selection seems to play a more important role than genetic drift in driving the speciation process. Overall, this study suggests that morphostatic radiations should not necessarily be considered as “non-adaptive” and that the speciation process can bind both adaptive divergence mechanisms and neutral speciation processes related with allopatric and/or reproductive isolation.

Revision of the genus Angaracris Bey-Bienko, 1930 (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Oedipodinae) with notes on the tribe Bryodemini.

Anagaracris is considered as a monotypic genus in the tribe Bryodemini (Acrididae: Oedipodinae). New synonymy is proposed: Angaracris barabensis (Pallas, 1773) = Angaracris morulimarginis Huang, 1981, syn. nov.; = Angaracris ulashanicus Li, 1981, syn. nov.; Angaracris acrohylina Bi, 1986, syn. nov.; = Angaracris nigrimarginis Zheng et Ren, 1993, syn. nov.; = Angaracris morulipennis Zheng et Ren, 1994, syn. nov.; = Angaracris neimongolensis Zeng et Han, 1998, syn. nov. The diagnosis of the tribe Bryodemini is clarified and a key to the genera and subgenera is provided.