Thermoregulation in four species of British grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

1. This study examines the extent to which thermal balance and thermoregulatory ability may contribute to habitat partitioning in insect herbivores.
2. The distribution of four species of grasshopper on a Breckland grass heath is described. Myrmeleotettix maculatus is restricted to short swards, Omocestus viridulus is restricted to long swards, and Chorthippus brunneus and Stenobothrus lineatus are found on swards of intermediate length.
3. Short swards are warmer on average than long swards, but lack cooler refuges on hot days.
4. Chorthippus brunneus and O. viridulus are better able to raise their body temperatures at low ambient temperatures than M. maculatus and S. lineatus . Omocestus viridulus is less able to reduce body temperature at high ambient temperature.
5. Myrmeleotettix maculatus may be precluded from inhabiting cooler long swards because of its inability to raise body temperatures at low ambient temperatures. Omocestus viridulus may avoid short swards because of the danger of overheating.
6. Thermoregulatory ability is a good predictor of the distribution of the grasshoppers in swards of differing length and microclimate.     

Genetic divergence in the Chorthippus parallelus species group (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Specimens of Chorthippus parallelus parallelus, C. p. erythropus, C. montanus, C. curtipennis and C. dorsatus were examined electrophoretically. This analysis indicates that C. curtipennis is very closely related to C. p. parallelus and C.p. erythropus (Nei's I = 0.97) while C. montanus is more distantly related ( I = 0.88). The values are consistent with divergence of C. p. erythropus from C. p. parallelus since its separation by the Pyrenean ice sheet during the Pleistocene and of C. curtipennis since invasion of North America by C. parallelus at the same time. A much earlier divergence of C. montanus is implied.     

Male and female genitalia in some Libyan species of Acrididae (Orthoptera: Acridoidea)

A comparative study of male and female genitalia was carried out in thirty‐seven Libyan species representing twenty genera of the family Acrididae. An attempt has been made to describe and illustrate the different structures, namely, epiphallus, aedeagus, subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci of the male, and spermatheca, ovipositor, subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci of the female, in Acridids, with an aim to discover their significance in order to make the identification of genera and species, together with other generic characters, more perfect and convenient. Distinct family characters are shield or bridge‐shaped condition of epiphallus; presence or absence of dorso‐lateral appendices, oval sclerites and lophi on epiphallus; divided, undivided or flexured condition of aedeagus; presence or absence of gonopore process on aedeagus; condition of apical and pre‐apical diverticula of spermatheca; presence or absence of glandular pouches of Cornstock and Kellog on female subgenital plate; and rudimentary or well developed condition of egg‐guide. Stable characters for separating the subfamilies are taken to be presence or absence of ancorae on epiphallus, long or short condition of aedeagal sclerites; elongate, slender or short and broad condition of ovipositor valves: presence or absence of Jannone's organs and setae on posterior margin of female subgenital plate; and shape of diverticula of spermatheca. Useful generic characters are shape of male subgenital plate, supra‐anal plate and cerci, broad or narrow condition of bridge, presence or absence of branch of bridge connecting lophi with bridge of epiphallus; mono‐, bi‐ or tri‐lobate condition of lophi of epiphallus, length and upcurved or downcurved condition of apical valve of aedeagus, shape of posterior margin of female subgenital plate, presence of setae on the whole posterior margin or confined to lateral margins only; and toothed, tuberculate or smooth condition of ovipositor valves, length of the lateral apodeme in relation to the dorsal valves. Specific characters are shape of egg‐guide of female subgenital plate, shape of ovipositor valves and apical tips, shape of male supra‐anal plate and cerci, size of anterior and posterior lobes of lophi of epiphallus, size and shape of ancorae, shape of apical valves of aedeagus; and size of apical and pre‐apical diverticula and presence of protuberance on pre‐apical diverticulum.     

Variation in dietary patterns among and within polyphagous grasshopper species (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Individuals of two polyphagous grasshopper species,Melanoplus differentialis andSchistocerca albolineata, were reared under standardized conditions to eliminate prior experience as an influence on feeding behavior. Individuals were offered four plants in simultaneous choice tests from 8 to 14 times during development to adulthood. Individual insects varied in the preferred plant and the strength of preference, in the strength of the preference hierarchy among the four plants, and in breadth of feeding in choice tests. Average feeding diversity in choice tests increased significantly in later instars, but the sexes did not differ in feeding pattern. In both species a significant preference for one plant was generally but not invariably associated with a consistent preference hierarchy. Breadth of feeding in all tests was inversely related to the strength of preference and of the preference hierarchy. Although the two species differed in feeding diversity and in the relationship between preference and strength of preference hierarchy, evidence suggests that these differences were due to the specific plants used rather than to true interspecific differences. The existence of such variation under highly standardized rearing conditions suggests that genetic variation for these characteristics may exist in natural populations of polyphagous grasshoppers.     

Molecular taxonomy and species delimitation in Andean Schistocerca (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The acridian genus Schistocerca comprises about 50 species which are endemic to the New World, except the Old World locust S. gregaria. Their morphological identification is rendered difficult by phase polyphenism, geographical overlap due to migrations or swarming, the difficulty to easily differentiate genitalia and the occurrence of interspecific hybrids. The three species reported from Peru include the swarming species S. interrita, a pest that can be recognized only by taxonomists. We show that it can be unambiguously identified using a mitochondrial DNA fragment known to have barcoding properties in this genus. We used several methods to delimitate Peruvian species. While S. interrita and S. pallens were well characterized, S. piceifrons peruviana was split into several taxa by a phylogeny-based method, whereas a combination of population genetics methods led one to identify only the three nominal species. A tentative reconstruction of the species history shows that several populations of S. piceifrons peruviana have recently increased in number, while exchanging some migrants, whereas an isolated population at the northern margin of the species range is substantially differentiated while exchanging no migrants with the others. This complex history has resulted in an atypical lineage pattern that appears to have confounded the standard assumptions underlying available species delimitation methods. Because of its behavioral property which tends to keep it panmictic, the identification of the swarming S. interrita remained unaffected.     

Response of grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) to livestock grazing in southeastern Arizona: differences between seasons and subfamilies

Summary Grasshopper densities were compared between grazed and ungrazed semidesert grassland sites in southeastern Arizona. Bouteloua-dominated perennial grass cover was about 1.5 times greater on the livestock exclosure. Grasshoppers were 3.7 times more abundant on the protected area in the summers of 1983 and 1984, when dominant species were grass-feeding members of the subfamily Gomphocerinae. In fall 1984, grasshoppers were 3.8 times more common on the grazed site, when dominants were mainly herb-feeders in the subfamily Melanoplinae. These results indicate important seasonal and taxonomic differences in the responses of grasshoppers to the activities of vertebrate grazers.     

Grasshopper （Orthoptera： Acrididae） biodiversity and grassland ecosystems

Interesting results may arise by combining studies on the structure and function of ecosystems with that of biodiversity for certain species. Grasshopper biodiversity is the result of the evolution of grassland ecosystems; however, it also impacts on the structure and the function of those ecosystems. We consider there to be a close relationship between the health of grassland ecosystems and grasshopper biodiversity. The main problems involved in this relationship are likely to include： （i） grasshopper biodiversity and its spatial pattern; （ii） the effect of grasshopper biodiversity on the ecological processes of grassland ecosystems; （iii） the biodiversity threshold of grasshopper population explosions; （iv） the relationship between grasshopper biodiversity and the natural and human factors that affect grassland ecosystems; and （v） grasshopper biodiversity and the health of grassland ecosystems. The solutions to these problems may provide sound bases for controlling disasters caused by grasshoppers and managing grassland ecosystems in the west of China. In this paper, we introduced two concepts for grasshopper biodiversity, that is, ＂spatial pattern＂ and ＂biodiversity threshold＂. It is helpful to understand the action of the spatial pattern of grasshopper biodiversity on the ecological processes of grassland ecosystems and the effect of this spatial pattern on the health of those ecosystems, owing to the fact that, in the west of China, grasslands are vast and grasshoppers are widely distributed. Moreover, we inferred that the change in the level of component richness at each type of grasshopper biodiversity can make an impact on grassland ecosystems, and therefore, there is likely to be a threshold to grasshopper biodiversity for the stability and the sustainability of those ecosystems.     

Temporal constancy in grasshopper assemblies (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Temporal constancy in the structure of grasshopper assemblies (about forty-five species each) from two types of North American grasslands was assessed; one site was followed 25 years and the other 7 years.
• 2 Densities and relative abundances varied but composition of assemblies based on ranks suggested significant structure when three or more species were included in the analysis.
• 3 Results compared favourably with other insect herbivore assemblies which have been examined; variability in population change was intermediate along the spectrum of organisms which have been studied.

     

马来西亚蝗科及一新种记述（直翅目：蝗总科）

记述了采自马来西亚的蝗科6亚科22属30种,包括一新种Vitalisia bangiensus sp. nov.。 并首次发现和描述了Sedulia perakensis Willemse的雄性及Eucoptacra minima Ramme和Pagdenia rufipes Miller的雌性。还发现Meltripata bolivari Willemse 和Pagdenia rufipes Miller具二型：全翅型和退化翅型。提供了马来西亚已记录属和种的检索表。     

Ronderosia ommexechoides: a new species of Brazilian dichroplini (Orthoptera: Acrididae, Melanoplinae)

A new species of the genus Ronderosia Cigliano 1997 is described. Color illustrations of the female and male, drawings of female and male external genitalia as well as drawings of its phallic structures and photographs of the chromosomes are included.     

Chemosensory proteins of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

We describe a family of proteins abundantly expressed in the chemoreception sensory organs, the antennae and legs, of the desert locust, Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera, Acrididae). Using polymerase chain reaction-based approaches and homology screenings, "OS-D"-like proteins were identified in L. migratoria. The different sub-types (LmigOS-Ds) are very similar to each other and share about 50-70% identity with OS-Ds from Drosophila melanogaster and Periplaneta americana. A similar degree of identity was also observed with moth OS-Ds. Northern blot analysis revealed a strong expression of the LmigOS-Ds in the antennae and legs, suggesting their involvement in chemosensory processes. Despite the lack of direct evidence for their role in chemosensation, LmigOS-Ds and their homologs seem to constitute a large protein family, characterized by a striking abundance and diversity among insect chemosensory organs.     

An unusual mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in the Chorthippus biguttulus species group (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment patterns have been used to investigate the Chorthippus biguttulus group: a group of morphologically similar grasshopper species with very distinct male calling songs. Ten haplotypes were identified in 21 populations, representing six species. Haplotype diversity was as great within species, and in some case within populations, as it was among species and no clear geographical patterns of haplotype distribution were revealed. In the light of grasshopper range changes since the last glaciation it is unlikely that these data can be explained entirely by the retention of ancestral polymorphism. This suggests that hybridization has occurred during periods of grasshopper range expansion since the last glacial maximum, allowing mtDNA transfer between populations that have previously diverged in allopatry.     

The adaptive role of facultative embryonic diapause in the grasshopper Caledia captiva (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in southeastern Australia

In a temperate zone population of the grasshopper Caledia captiva (Fabnerus) (Orthoptera Acrididae), facultative embryonic diapause provided the basis for a number of aspects of life cycle flexibility Most offspring produced during the summer entered diapause, destined to overwinter as embryos and hatch in the spring, but a small percentage developed directly to hatching, overwintered as nymphs and reproduced in the spring The two different developmental pathways often occurred among the offspring of the same mother, and could represent a bet-hedging adaptation Offspring of the small overwintering generation were influenced by a maternal effect which greatly diminished their likelihood of entering diapause This is an adaptation to prevent an inappropriate developmental delay that would negate the fitness advantage of an extra generation Offspring produced in the autumn failed to develop to the stage at which diapause intervenes before winter and overwintered at a pre-diapause stage They did not enter diapause when development resumed in the spring Facultative diapause in this case also prevented an inappropriate developmental delay in the spring, and provided females with the option of reproducing toward the end of the growing season Life cycle flexibility appears to have evolved to exploit a climate with a short growing season but mild winter     

Effects of supernumerary heterochromatin on chiasma condition in two species of Acrididae (Orthoptera)

Amblytropidia australis and Dichroplus elongatus were found to be polymorphic for supernumerary heterochromatin. In both, basic karyotypes are 2n=22+XO in males.Mitotically unstable extra chromosomes were detected in a population of A. australis. The Bs are telocentric and their number varies from O to 2 within individuals. Mean frequencies of interstitial and total chiasmata at diplotene were compared between individuals with and without Bs. The mean frequency of interstitial chiasmata increases with the number of Bs per cell.A supernumerary terminal segment in S₁₀ pair was observed in a heterozygous condition in several individuals of D. elongatus. The localization and frequency of chiasmata at diplotene were studied. The segment has an intrachromosomal effect since it modifies the location of chiasmata in the bivalent involved.Fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET).     

荒漠草原三种蝗虫成虫种内和种间竞争的研究

荒漠草原三种蝗虫成虫种内和种间竞争的研究贺达汉方成郑哲民（宁夏农学院农学系,永宁７５０１０５）（陕西师范大学动物研究所,西安７１００６２）Ｉｎｔｒａ＿ａｎｄＩｎｔｅｒｓｐｅｃｉｆｉｃＣｏｍｐｅｔｉｔｉｏｎａｍｏｎｇｔｈｅＡｄｕｌｔｓｏｆＴｈｒｅｅＧｒ...     

Aging and chiasma frequency in Eyprepocnemis plorans (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The mean frequency of chiasmata was analysed in 29 males of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans at three different ages considered representative of the whole adult life in this species. In the factors which could potentially affect the parameter studied—namely age, family, individual and the presence or absence of B chromosomes—significant differences were only observed at the individual level. Aging produces no general effect but interacts strongly with the individuals though the age-induced variations in chiasma frequency are not directional. The fact that the range of chiasma frequency variation found within individuals at different ages is comparable to that existing among individuals indicates that the adaptive role of such variations in natural populations must be taken with caution.     

内蒙古拟埃蝗属一新种记述（直翅目：剑角蝗科）

记述采自内蒙古锡林浩特地区拟埃蝗属1新种,即锡林拟埃蝗Pseudoeoscyllina xilingensis sp.nov.附有拟埃蝗属分种检索表。新种的模式标本保存于陕西师范大学动物研究所昆虫标本室。