Prof. T.C.

Narenderan Trust for Animal Taxonomy Biosystematica

http://www.tcntrust.org/journal.php ISSN: 0973-7871(online)
ISSN: 0973-9955 (print)

Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh

MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR

Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, India.

ABSTRACT. Thirty three species of locusts and grasshoppers representing thirty genera, eleven subfamilies
and four tribes belonging to the families Pyrgomorphidae, Catantopidae and Acrididae are reported from different
localities of Western Uttar Pradesh. Localities surveyed and distribution of each species collected from Western
Uttar Pradesh is discussed. Their distinguishing characters and economic importance are given. Bio ecological
data on the species and their relationship with vegetation are also provided. A comprehensive report of Acridoid
fauna of this region is given for the first time.

KEYWORDS. Taxonomy, Biodiversity, Acridoidea, Orthoptera, Western U.P.

Introduction
All the economically important species belonging to the
Superfamily Acridoidea are commonly known as
locusts and grasshoppers. Sometimes they are called
short-horned grasshoppers in contrast to Ensifera
(Tettigonoidea and Grylloidea) or long-horned
grasshoppers which constitute one of the other suborder
of Orthoptera. Suborder Caelifera is divided into four
Superfamilies viz. Acridoidea, Tridactyloidea,
Tetrigoidea and Eumastacoidea. Acridoidea possess
short antennae, usually shorter than the body and a short
ovipositor and their tarsi are three-segmented.
Superfamily Tettigonoidea is easily distinguishable from
Acridoidea by the elongate pronotum, usually extending
beyond the end of the body, by the absence of an
arolium between the claws and the two-segmented tarsi
of the fore and middle legs. The other Superfamilies of
Caelifera are easily recognizable at sight and are not
frequently encountered. Superfamily Acridoidea has
shown maximum diversity and divided into various
families of which family Acrididae, Catantopidae and
Pyrgomorphidae are widely distributed in India.Locusts
and grasshoppers constitute an economically important
group of Orthopterous pests that infest a number of
cultivated and non-cultivated crops. They cause
considerable damage to agricultural crops, pastures and
forests and are well reputed for their destructiveness
all over the world. Locusts and grasshoppers have
invaded green crops from the earliest days to present
time. Locusts are the main pests in countries bordering
deserts. The devastations caused by migratory swarms
of locusts in Africa are well known.
A notable taxonomical work on Acrididae was
made by Kirby (1914) in the series Fauna of British
India and he divided the family Acrididae into eight
subfamilies. Uvarov (1921, 1924, 1927, 1942) studied
in detail Indian Acrididae.
Agarwala (1952) contributed some studies on
female copulatory structures in relation to oviposition
sites while Roonwal (1956) contributed some studies
on the nymphal structures and ecology on Acrididae.
Bhowmik (1985), Tandon (1975, 1976), Shishodia
(1987, 1997, 1999), Tandon and Shishodia (1969-
1989), Usmani and Shafee (1980-1990), Kumar &
Virktamath (1991a,b), Murlirangan & Srinivasan
(1992), Hazra et al. (1993), Priya & Narendran
(2003), Kulkarni & Shishodia (2004, 2005) and
Usmani (2006) have contributed works on the taxonomy
of this group. More recently, Tandon & Khera (1978),

Corresponding author: usmanikamil94@gmail.com Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1): 39-58

39
40 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
Julka et al. (1982), Shishodia and Hazra (1986) and
Dey and Hazra (2003) have done work on the
taxonomy as well as on the ecology of this group.
Earlier literature on the systematics of
Acridoidea is exclusively based on conventional
characters, namely, shape, size, colouration,
texture, number of antennal segments etc. The
recent trend in acridoid systematics is mainly based
on genitalic characters especially of phallic
complex. This has resulted into a profound change
in the systematic concept of this group. The genitalic
structures particularly epiphallus, aedeagus and
spermatheca are less affected than the external
characters by environmental conditions. A
comparative study of these characters may
therefore help to trace the interrelationship of the
groups more clearly than the external characters.
The present study is based on the conventional
as well as genitalic characters, for better understanding
of the significance of morphological structures.
Comparative study was made on genitalia with
reference to subgenital plate, ovipositor, spermatheca
and supra-anal plate & cerci of female; subgenital plate,
epiphallus, supra-anal plate and cerci and aedeagus
of male.
In the key besides using the characters
proposed by earlier workers, some additional characters
of male and female genitalic structures are also
incorporated. Most of the genera are represented by
single species. The species represented in this region
are briefly described. Notes on colouration are also
given.
In the present study the authors uphold recent
workers in classifying Acridoidea with a few generally
accepted changes. The Superfamily Acridoidea is here
understood in the same sense as by Uvarov (1966).
No survey work so far has been done
exclusively for this group from North region. There
are very few reports on the taxonomy of Acridoidea
from this region. Except for some sporadic reports
there is no systematic study on the locusts and
grasshoppers belonging to the Superfamily Acridoidea
from North India, a hot spot of Biodiversity. Keeping
in view the above fact, the present work is aimed at
studying one of the Superfamilies of Orthoptera which
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
is most widely distributed and shows a very high degree
of biological diversity.
Uttar Pradesh is bounded by Nepal on the
North, Himachal Pradesh on the North West, Haryana
on the west, Rajasthan on the south west, Madhya
Pradesh on the south and south- west and Bihar on the
east. Situated between 2352N and 3128N latitudes
and 773' and 8439E longitudes, Uttar Pradesh is
Indias fifth largest and most populous state, located in
the north -western part of the country. It spreads over
a large area, and the plains of the State are quite
distinctly different from the high mountains in the north.
Uttar Pradesh covers a large part of the highly fertile
and densely populated upper Gangetic plain.
The climate of Uttar Pradesh is predominantly
sub-tropical. Depending on the elevation, the average
temperatures vary from 54.563.5 F (12.517.5 C)
in January to 81.590.5 F (27.532.5 C) in May
and June. The climate of Uttar Pradesh can also vary
widely, with temperatures as high as 47 C in summer,
and as low as -1 C in winter. There are three distinct
seasons - winter from October to February, summer
from March to mid-June, and the rainy season from
June to September.
Rainfall in the state ranges from 4080 inches
(1,0002,000 mm) in the east to 2440 inches (600
1,000 mm) in the west. About 90 percent of the rainfall
occurs during the southwest monsoon, lasting from
about June to September.
Uttar Pradesh is a major contributor to the national
food grain stock. Partly this is due to the fertile regions of
the Indo-Gangetic plain and partly owing to irrigation
measures such as the Ganga Canal and tube-wells.
The specimens studied in this work are
deposited in Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh, U. P. India.
Material and methods
The present authors collected new material
(230 specimens) of adult grasshoppers of both sexes
from various localities of Aligarh, Etah, Mainpuri and
regions of Western Uttar Pradesh which served the basis
for the present critical study. A complete record was
also maintained indicating the reference number, locality,
data of collection and name of host plants etc.
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
I) Collection of adult grasshoppers
The authors surveyed various agricultural areas
of Aligarh, Etah, Mainpuri and West U.P. during the
period 2006-2008 for the collection of grasshoppers
and locusts. Handpicking, insect nets and light traps
were the methods used for collection. The collected
specimens were killed in cyanide bottles.
II) Preparations for morphological studies
Dry mounts were also prepared for better
understanding of certain characters like size, colour,
texture etc. For this purpose, the specimens were first
relaxed, stretched and later, they were pinned and
labeled. Permanent collections of pinned specimens
were kept in store boxes and cabinets for further studies
on their morphological structures.
III) Preparations for genitalic studies
For a detailed study of the various components
of genitalia, the permanent slides were prepared and
examined under the microscope in order to make a
detailed study of the genitalic structures. Drawings were
initially made with the help of a camera lucida. Details
were filled in by conventional microscopic examination.
TAXONOMIC ACCOUNT
SUPERFAMILY ACRIDOIDEA LATREILLE,
1802
The Superfamily Acridoidea is represented by
three families.
A. FAMILY PYRGOMORPHIDAE
BRUNNER, 1874
KEY TO TRIBES OF THE FAMILY
PYRGOMORPHIDAE BRUNNER
1. Body never depressed; prosternum without reflexed
collar-like anterior margin .............................. 2
Body depressed; pronotum with refled, collar-like
anterior margin; tegmina with small nodules on main
veins; antennae cylindrical ................................
............................... Chrotogonini Bolivar,1905
2. Body small, never large and heavy; tegmina and
hind wing usually fully developed.................... 3
Body large and heavy; antennae filiform with basal
segments as long as wide; pronotum with metazona
convex, much widened distad, posterior margin
somewhat rounded; tegmina and hind wing well
developed ........ Poekilocerini Burmeister, 1840
41
3. Tegmina if fully developednever tapered and pointed;
epiphallus bridge-shaped; apical part of
spermatheca S-shaped ....................................
....................... Pyrgomorphini (Brunner, 1874)
Tegmina usually fully developed and usually very
tapered and pointed; epiphallus anchor-shaped;
apical part of spermatheca with two diverticula .
......................... Atractomorphini Bolivar, 1884
TRIBE PYRGOMORPHINI BRUNNER, 1874
1. Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier, 1791)
Acrydium conicum Olivier, 1791. Encycl. Meth. Ins.
VI, 230.
Truxalis grylloides Latreille, 1804. Hist. nat. crust.
Ins. XII, 148.
Truxalis rosea Charpentier, 1825. Hor. Soc. Ent. Ross,
128.
Truxalis linearis Charpentier, 1825. Op. Cit. 129.
Truxalis rhodoptila Herrich-Schaeffer, 1838. Panzer
faun. Ins. Germ. 16.
Opomala cingulata Walker, 1870. Cat. Derm. Salt.
Brit. Mus. 517.
Pyrgomorpha conica (Olivier); Kirby, 1914. Fauna
Brit. India Acrididae,179.
Diagnostic characters: Smaller insects; grey or green;
antennae filiform, longer than head and pronotum
together; fastigium of vertex longer than broad, apex
rounded; occiput and vertex with distinct median
carinula; frontal ridge sulcated, constricted much below
mid ocellus; pronotum rounded behind, median carina
not raised, intersected by two transverse sulci, lateral
carinae visible before first transverse sulcus, absent in
metazona, surface of pronotum finely granulose; meso
and metasternal interspace wide open; tegmina and
wings reaching near to the apex of hind femur, hind
tibia with 8 external and 13 internal spines in female,
external apical spine absent, the internal pair of spurs
comparatively longer than outer pair.
Material examined: 2 male, 3 female, 12.VII.2007,
on grass, AMU campus. 2 male, 2 female, 5.iii.2007,
on maize, Shamaspur, Etah.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 15-18, Pronotum 3-4, Tegmina 13-16,
Hind femur 1012.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
42 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
Female: Body 2230, Pronotum 4.55, Tegmina 15
22, Hind femur 1214.
Remarks: The specimens were collected from the
cultivated fields having mixed vegetation of grasses,
maize and vegetables.
Natural enemies: The tachinid fly Myiothyria
benoisti Mesn. is recorded as a parasite of P. conica.
Distribution: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar,
Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh.
TRIBE ATRACTOMORPHINI BOLIVAR,
1884
2. Atractomorpha crenulata (Fabricius, 1793)
Truxalis crenulatus Fabricius, 1793. Ent. Syst., 2: 38.
Atractomorpha crenulata (Fabricius); Saussure, 1862.
Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 4: 1.
Atractomorpha consobrina Saussure, 1862. Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr. 1: 475
Atractomorpha infumata Bolivar, 1898. Ann. Mus.
Stor. Genova. 39:86.
Atractomorpha blanchardi Bolivar, 1905. Bol. Soc.
Esp. Hist. nat., 5: 206.
Atractomorpha blanchardi Kirby, 1914. Fauna Brit.
India Acrididae, 181.
Atractomorpha obscura Bolivar, 1916. Rev. Acad.
Cienc. Madr. 16: 392.
Diagnostic characters
It can easily be identified on the bases of fastigium
of vertex somewhat longer, tegmina comparatively
longer, wings purple coloured at base. The size and
colour of species are extremely variable.
Material Examined: 3 male, 2 female, 15.I.2007,
on grasses, Gangdundwara, Kashiram Nagar.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 22.3, Pronotum 2.8, Tegmina 22.2, Hind
femur 11.5.
Female: Body 30, Pronotum 3.8, Tegmina 26.8, Hind
femur 13.2.
Remarks: It is widely distributed in India. This species
is found in the cultivated fields having mixed vegetation
i.e. grasses, maize and vegetables.
Natural enemies: Scelio sp. has been bred from the
eggs (Greathead, 1963).
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Distribution: West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu,
Andaman Islands, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Rajasthan, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, Maldives
and Laccadive Islands.
TRIBE POEKILOCERINI BURMEISTER,
1838
3. Poekilocerus pictus (Fabricius, 1775)
Gryllus pictus Fabricius 1775. Flensburgi et. Lipsiae,
832pp.
Poekilocerus sonneratii Serville 1831. Annls. Sci,
nat. 22: 134.
Poekilocerus tessellates Bolivar, 1904. Boln R. Soc.
esp. Hist. nat. 4: 306.
Diagnostic characters
This species of Poekilocerus can be distinguished from
other species by its antennae blue-black ringed with
black and yellow beyond the basal third of
subinterrupted transverse yellow bands, pronotum
impress-punctate, rounded behind, the hind sulcus
placed just behind the middle.
Material Examined: 3 male, 05.VIII.2008, on Oak,
Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 54, Pronotum 4, Tegmina 33.2, Hind femur
20.9.
Remarks: The preferred food plant is
Calotropis procerca (Ait.F.) which favour sandy
soil and semi-arid conditions. The readiness to
accept alternative food plants has enabled
Poekilocerus to survive in some areas where
Calotropis is scarce or even absent. This is the
most mobile member of the genus in which both
sexes especially the females have proportionately
longer wings.
Natural enemies: The praying mantis Mantis
religiosa is a predator and the dipterous parasite
Blaesoxipha sp. has been recorded to cause nearly
11% mortality of hoppers.
Distribution: Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra
Pradesh, Rajasthan.
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
TRIBE CHROTOGONINI I. BOLIVAR, 1884
4. Chrotogonus trachypterus (Blanchard, 1836)
Ommecha trachypterus Blanchard, 1836. Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr. 5:618.
Chrotogonus trachypterus (Blanchard); Bolivar,
1884. Ann. Soc. Ent. Hist. nat. 13:44.
Chrotogonus robertsi Kirby, 1914. Fauna Brit. India
Acrididae, 164.
Chrotogonus isertus Bolivar, 1884. Ann. Soc. Ent.
Hist. nat. 13: 38.
Diagnostic characters: Body brown, rugose and
tuberculate; head short and broad; antennae 11-
segmented; pronotum short, broad with small
tubercles; sternum yellowish; tegmina reaching near
to the tip of abdomen, covered with numerous
prominent nodules, wings nearly as long as the
tegmen; hind femur as long as the abdomen; hind
tibia with 7 external and 9 internal spines; abdomen
brown above, pale beneath, without darkish spots,
but with darkish tinge.
Material examined: 1male, 2 female, 4.IV.2007, on
grass, AMU graveyard. 1male, 1female, 3.VII.2007
on maize, Ganjdundwara, Etah.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 7.1, Pronotum 4.0, Tegmina 9.1, Hind
femur 7.1
Female: Body 8.9, Pronotum 5.3, Tegmina 12.3, Hind
femur 8.9
Remarks: The specimens were collected from the
maize fields and grassy lands.
Natural enemies: The hymenopterans Scelio
aegyptiacus Priesner and S. hieroglyphi Timb. were
recorded to parasitize the eggs by Ahmed et al. (1973).
Distribution: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya,
Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
B. FAMILY CATANTOPIDAE BRUNNER, 1893
KEY TO SUBFAMILIES OF THE FAMILY
CATANTOPIDAE
1.Lower knee-lobe of hind femur never spined; valves
of ovipositor usually never serrate or spined; hind
tibia never flattened ........................................ 2
43
- Lower knee-lobe of hind femur spined; valves of
ovipositor serrate or spined; hind tibia usually
flattened ...................... Oxyinae Brunner, 1893
2.Radial area of tegmen without transverse stridulatory
veinlets; valves of aedeagus flexured; aroilum of
variable size ................................................... 3
-Radial area of tegmen with a series of regular, parallel,
thickened, transverse stridulatory veinlets; valves
of aedeagus divided or connected by small or
indistinct flexure; arolium large ..........................
.............................. Hemiacridinae Dirsh, 1956
3. Mesosternal interspace open; hind femur with
dorsal carina finely denticulate, sometimes
smooth; external apical spine of hind tibia usually
absent ........................................................... 4
Mesosternal interspace closed; hind femur with
dorsal carina smooth; external apical spine of hind
tibia present ....................................................
.................... Tropidopolinae Jacobson, 1902
4. Mesosternal lobes rounded; ancorae well developed
and curved; pronotum with median carina never
raised; spermatheca with apical divertioculum
moderately long ............................................. 5
Mesosternal lobes rectangular; ancorae small or
indistinct; pronotum with median carina slightly
raised; spermatheca with apical divertioculum very
long and slender ...............................................
................... Cyrtacanthacridinae Uvarov, 1923
5. Body medium to large size; integument smooth; last
abdominal tergite in male without well developed
furcula; male subgenital plate without transverse fold;
bridge of epiphallus usually undivided medially ..
................................................................. 6
Body small to medium size; integument rough; last
abdominal tergite in male with well developed
furcula; male subgenital plate with transverse fold;
bridge of epiphallus divided medially .................
........................... Coptacridinae Brunner, 1893
6. Pronotum with lateral carinae linear; male cercus
strongly compressed apex downcurved ............
.................. Eyprepocnemidinae Brunner, 1893
Pronotum without lateral carinae, if present, never
linear; male cercus variable, never strongly
compressed, apex normal ................................
............................ Catantopinae Brunner, 1893
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
44 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
SUBFAMILY OXYINAE BRUNNER, 1893
5. Oxya velox (Fabricius, 1787)
Gryllus velox Fabricius, 1787: Mantissa Insectorum,
1: 239.
Gryllus squalidus Marschall, 1836: Ann. Wien. Mus.,
1: 213.
Heteracris apta Walker, 1870a: Acrididae
(concluded) Part IV. 666.
Oxya velox (Fabricius): Kirby, 1910: Orthoptera
Saltatoria. Part II. Locustidae vel Acrididae ix + 674
London. 393.
Oxya velox (Fabricius): Hollis, 1971: Bull. Br. Mus.
Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 26: 297.
Oxya velox (Fabricius): Tandon, 1976: Rec. Zool.
Surv. India, Occ. Pap. No. 3: 9.
Diagnostic characters: Body more or less shiny,
antennae is as long as combined length of head and
pronotum together. Interocular distance as wide as
frontal ridge at median sulcus. Posterior margin of
metazona of pronotum is sharply pointed and
angular.Supra-anal plate rounded triangular in posterior
portion. Cercus conical with subacute apex.
Material Examined: 5 male, 3 female, 03.II.2009;
17.III.2009, on grasses and lawn grasses, University
Fort, Geography department lawn, Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 22.4, Pronotum 6.1, Tegmina 19.4, Hind
femur 14.4.
Female: Body 26.6, Pronotum 6.4, Tegmina 23.0, Hind
femur 17.6.
Remarks: Eggs are laid at the base of sorghum stalks.
It is ambivorous, but recorded as feeding on herbs,
grasses and weeds. They are sometimes attracted to
light.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu
and Kashmir, Rajasthan.
6. Oxya hyla intricata Stal, 1860
Acridium (Oxya) intricatum Stal, 1860: Kong. Svens.
Fregatten Eugenies Resa Omkring Jorden, 3: 335.
Oxya intricate (Stal): Stal, 1873b: Recensio
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Orthopterorum, 1: 82.
Oxya universalis Willemse, 1925: Tijdschr. Ent., 68: 2.
Oxya insularis Willemse, 1925: Tijdschr. Ent., 68:34.
Oxya siamensis Willemse, 1925: Tijdschr. Ent., 68:37.
Oxya moluccensis Ramme, 1941: Mitt. Zool. Mus.
Berl., 25: 214.
Oxya hyla intricate (Stal): Hollis, 1971: Bull. Br. Mus.
Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 26: 287.
Oxya hyla intricate (Stal): Tandon, 1976: Rec. Zool.
Surv. India, Occ. Pap. No. 3: 8.
Diagnostic characters: Ventral surface of female sub
genital plate without longitudinal ridges or with only slight
traces of them apically and not at all spined; ovipositor
valves with long hook-like dents; epiphallus with inner
lophi reduced or absent.
Material examined: 2 male, 14.IX.2007, on rice field,
Shamaspur, Etah.
Morphometry: (Length in mm)
Female: Body 26.5, Pronotum 6.4, Tegmina 23.0, Hind
femur 17.6.
Remarks: This species is widely distributed in different
parts of Indian sub-continent and Africa. It is mostly
found as a pest of paddy.
Natural enemies: In N. Pakistan parasitization by
the hymenopteran Scelio aegyptiacus Priesner was
recorded by Irshad et al. 1978.
Distribution: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra
Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and
Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh.
7. Oxya japonica japonica (Thunberg, 1824)
Gryllus japonicas Thunberg, 1824: Mem. Acad. Sci.
St. Petersb., 9: 429.
Acridium sinensis Walker, 1870a: Acrididae
(concluded) Part IV. 628.
Heteracris straminea Walker, 1870a: Acrididae
(concluded) Part IV. 666.
Heteracris simplex Walker, 1870a: Acrididae
(concluded) Part IV. 669.
Oxya lobata Stal, 1877: Ofvers. Vetenskakad.
Forth., Stockh., 34: 53.
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
Oxya asinensis Willemse, 1925: Tijdschr. Ent., 68: 32.
Oxya rufostriata Willemse, 1925: Tijdschr. Ent., 68: 33.
Oxya japonica japonica (Thunberg): Hollis, 1971:
Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 26: 302.
Oxya japonica japonica (Thunberg): Tandon, 1976:
Rec. Zool. Surv. India. Occ. Pap. No. 3: 8.
Diagnostic characters: Antennae as long as or slightly
longer than head and pronotum together. Lateral
longitudinal ridges on ventral surface of female sub
genital plate without spines except at apices. Ovipositor
valves with short dents. Posterior ventral basivalvular
sclerite with a large spine on its inner ventral margin,
male cercus with sub-acute or truncate apex.
Material examined: 5 male, 7 female 13. IX. 2007,
on rice field, Ganjdundwara, Etah.
Morphometry: (Length in mm)
Male: Body 13.7, Pronotum 8.5, Tegmina 21.2, Hind
femur 11.2.
Female: Body 14.9, Pronotum 9.0, Tegmina 23.5, Hind
femur 14.9.
Remarks: This sub-species is widely distributed in India
and Indo-Malayan region. It is a major pest of paddy
crop.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies are recorded.
Distribution: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Tripura, West Bengal, Gujarat, Bihar, Assam, Manipur,
Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab.
SUBFAMILY HEMIACRIDINAE DIRSH,
1956
8. Hieroglyphus banian (Fabricius, 1798)
Gryllus banian Fabricius, 1798: Supplementum
Entomologiae systematicae. (4) + 572pp. 194.
Acridium furcifer Serville, 1838: In Roret, Collection
des suites a Buffon. Orthopteres. 776pp. 677.
Hieroglyphus banian (Fabricius): Lefroy, 1909: A
mannul of the Insects of plants (Tropical India). Xii+
786pp. 87.
Hieroglyphus banian (Fabricius): Uvarov, 1922b: Bull.
ent. Res., 13: 237.
Hieroglyphus banian (Fabricius): Willlemse, 1955:
Public. Nat. Hist. Gen. Limburg, 8: 184.
Hieroglyphus banian (Fabricius): Mason, 1973: Bull.
45
Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 28: 540, 541.
Diagnostic characters: Green including the antennae.
Pronotum smooth with four sulci, narrowly lined with
black, the first obsolete above, the second on the sides
and the last two continuous. Tegmina subhyaline, densely
reticulated and greenish at the base, with green nervures,
wings as long as the tegmina, greenish hyaline. The three
sub-terminal ventral segments with silky tufts of hair on
the middle. Hind tibiae blue with black tipped spines.
Antennae with the basal joint yellowish green, the rest
dark green tipped with yellow.
Material examined: 4 male, 13.XI.2006, on grasses,
AMU Fort; 5 female 14.XI.2006, on grasses, Punjipur,
Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Female: Body 48.8, Antennae 15.8, Pronotum 9.1,
Tegmen 32.9, Hind femur 24.2, Hind tibia 21.6
Natural enemies: The authors found small reddish
mites possibly Trombidium sp. on adults but doubted
whether they caused any mortality. 15% of egg pods
dug up near Bangalore was parasitized by Scelio
hieroglyphi (Channa Basa, 1953). Many vertebrates
including frogs, snakes, lizards, birds and mammals
occasionally feed on H. banian but none is regarded
as an important predator.
Remarks: The specimens were collected from Maize
fields and grasslands.
Distribution: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim,
Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.
9. Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus I. Bolivar, 1912
Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus I. Bolivar, 1912b: Trab.
Mus. Cienc. Nat. Madr., Zool. Ser. 4: 56.
Hieroglyphus bettoni Kirby, 1914. Fauna Brit. India
Acrididae,203.
Hieroglyphus vastatar Carl, 1916: Rev. Suisse Zool.,
24: 481.
Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus I. Bolivar: Uvarov, 1922b:
Bull. ent. Res., 13: 235.
Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus I. Bolivar: Mason, 1973:
Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 28: 526.
Diagnostic characters: Its Pronotum with sides
markedly expanded in metazona, dorsum with
characteristic black pattern connecting all sulci by two
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
46 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
irregular stripes. First and third sulci joined by a black
band; posterior margin of pronotum obtuse angular,
male cercus with elongate acute apex, oblique on
upper margin, female genital plate without parallel
ridges. Commonly known as phadka grasshopper.
Generally found in swamps and irrigated lands, and is
phytophilous in habits. It is a major pest of rice,
sugarcane, hemp, maize and sorghum. Normally it is
nonmigratory, but sometimes it develops the habit of
swarming. It is found in both macro and brachypterous
forms.
Material examined: 8 male, 10 female, 21. VII. 2007,
on grass, AMU Fort, 2 male, 4 female, 22. VII. 2007,
on maize, Punjipur, Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 37.2, Antennae 19.4, Pronotum 7.0,
Tegmen 26.3, Hind femur 25.1, Hind tibia 17.5
Female: Body 49.6, Antennae 16.9, Pronotum 9.9,
Tegmen 33.8, Hind femur 25.1, Hind tibia 22.5
Remarks: This species is widely distributed in India
and is commonly found in paddy and maize fields.
Natural enemies: The hymenopteran Scelio
hyroglyphi Timb. was recorded as an egg parasite but
the level of infestation was low (Roonwal, 1976).
Various birds, mammals, snake and frog have been
observed as predator. Mites Eutrombidium trigonum
and Trombidium sp. were observed infesting H.
nigrorepletus by the author.
Distribution: Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa,
Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West
Bengal.
10. Spathosternum prasiniferum (Walker, 1871)
Heteracris prasinifera Walker, 1871: Catalogue of
the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 65.
Caloptenus caliqinosus Walker, 1871: Catalogue of
the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 69.
Stenobothrus striqulatus Walker, 1871: Catalogue
of the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 82.
Stenobothrus simplex Walker, 1871: Catalogue of
the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Supplement, part V, pp. 82.
Stenobothrus rectus Walker, 1871: Catalogue of the
Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 83.
Spathosternum venulosum Stal, 1878: K. svenska
Vetensk- Akad. Handl., 5: 97.
Oxya presinifera (Walker); Kirby, 1910: Orthoptera
Saltatoria. Part II. Locustidae vel Acrididae ix + 674
London. 394.
Spathosternum prasiniferum (Walker); Kirby, 1914.
Fauna Brit. India Acrididae, 208.
Spathosternum prasiniferum (Walker); Mishchenko,
1952: Akad. Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 4: 107.
Spathosternum prasiniferum (Walker); Willemse,
1955: Public. Nat. Hist. Gen. Limburg, 8: 197.
Diagnostic characters: Small, green, integument finely
rugose, almost smooth. Head conical, fastigium of
vertex obtusely angular or parabolic. Filiform antennae,
frontal ridge narrow and sulcated. Two broad blackish
band or dark greenish band running behind the lower
part of the eyes and below the lateral carinae of the
pronotum which is banded above by a narrow pale
yellow line and lateral carinae present, prosternal
process large, strongly, anteroposteriorly compressed,
spatulated, inclined backwards.
Material examined: 2 male, 3 female, 17.III.2007
on road side grasses, Shamaspur, Etah.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 14.4, Antennae 39, Pronotum 3.4, Tegmen
11.4, Hind femur 8.6, Hind tibia 6.8.
Female: Body 17.9, Antennae 4.8, Pronotum 4.4,
Tegmen 14.4, Hind femur 10.8, Hind tibia 8.8.
Remarks: This species is generally found on either side
of road, in pastures and in crop fields. It is a pest of crop.
Natural enemies: A Scelio sp. was reared from egg
pods of S. prasiniferum. Eutrombidium trigonum
was also found parasitizing this species.
Distribution: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu &
Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh.
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
SUBFAMILY EYPREPOCNEMIDINAE
BRUNNER, 1893
11. Eyprepocnemis alacris (Serville, 1839)
Acridium alacre Serville, 1838: In Roret, Collection
des suites a Buffon. Orthopteres, 682.
Acridium deponens Walker, 1859: Ann. Mag. Nat.
Hist., (3) 4: 222.
Heteracris rudis Walker, 1870a: Part IV. Acrididae
(concluded) pp. 662.
Caloptenus reductus Walker, 1870a: Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp. 713.
Acridium scitulum Walker, 1871: Catalogue of the
Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 62.
Eyprepocnemis plorans var. intermedia I. Bolivar,
1902: Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr., 70: 630.
Eyprepocnemis alacris (Serville); Kirby, 1914. Fauna
Brit. India Acrididae, 267.
Eyprepocnemis alacris (Serville); Willemse, 1957:
Public. Nat. Hist. Gen. Limburg, 10: 240.
Eyprepocnemis alacris (Serville); Dirsh, 1958a: Proc.
R. ent. Soc. Lond., 27: 40.
Diagnostic characters: This is a typical species of
the genus. It can easily be separated from other
members of genus in having bluish grey hind tibia with
two whitish signs at the base and reddish apex and
tarsus, male cercus gradually narrowing towards apex
incurved and down curved.
Fastigium of vertex roundly with frontal ridge
with characteristic dark brown markings on lateral
carinae, prosternal process cylindrical and antero-
posteriorly compressed. Elytra and wings fully
developed, elytra with numerous brown spots, bluish
grey hind tibiae.
Material examined: 2 male, 6. IV. 2007, on grasses,
AMU fort, Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 24.8, Antennae 8.3, Pronotum 6.1, Hind
femur 15.6, Hind tibia 13.4
Remarks: This species is widely distributed in India
and adjacent countries. It is a polyphagous species.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies are recorded.
Distribution: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Assam,
47
Manipur, Meghalaya, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh.
12. Choroedocus robustus (Serville, 1838)
Acridium robustum Serville, 1838: In Roret,
Collection des suites a Buffon. Orthopteres, 647.
Heteracris duclis Walker, 1870a: Part IV. Acrididae
(concluded) pp. 663, 665.
Heteracris robusta (Serville); Kirby, 1910:
Orthoptera Saltatoria. Part II. Locustidae vel
Acrididae ix + 674 London. 555.
Heteracris robusta (Serville); Kirby, 1914. Fauna
Brit. India Acrididae, 262.
Choroedocus robustus (Serville); Uvarov, 1921c:
Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1921: 109.
Choroedocus robustus (Serville); Tandon, 1976: Rec.
Zool. Surv. India., Occ. Pap. No. 3: 13.
Diagnostic characters: Pronotum with a distinct
median carina, head with broad brown band bordered
in front by a yellow stripe, pronotum dark brown without
lateral carina. Dorsum crossed by three sulci, upper
part with the brown yellow bordered band of the vertex
continued to the extremity. Tibiae and tarsi-red. Cercus
broad, compressed, sunconical and flattened, apex sub
acute.
Material examined: 2 female, 11. IV. 2007 on grasses,
AMU Fort, Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Female: Body 60.2, Antennae 20.8, Pronotum 14.6,
Tegmen 51.8, Hind femur 39.6, Hind tibia 35.6
Remarks: It differs from C. illustris (Walker) in
tegmina usually with numerous rather large brown or
blackish brown spots; male sub genital plate truncate
apically.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies are recorded.
Distribution: West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.
13. Tylotropidius varicornis (Walker, 1870)
Heteracris varicornis Walker, 1870a: Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp. 164.
Tylotropidius ceylonicus Brunner, 1893: Ann. Mus.
Stor. Nat. Genova. (2), 13: 164.
Tylotropidius varicornis (Walker); Kirby, 1914.
Fauna Brit. India Acrididae, 265.
Diagnostic characters: Pronotum brown, with the
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
48 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
lateral carinae pale, curving hind wards, hind border
somewhat roundly angulate. Prosternal tubercle
compressed, truncated and slightly bituberculate at the
extremity, metasternal lobe of the female truncated on
the inner side, it has dark brown mark on the dorsum
of the pronotum. Tegmina with a row of triangular
whitish spots upon the radial nervure and a pale
longitudinal strip in the costal area, wings bluish hyaline.
Hind femora thickened at the base, very slender toward
the tips, the upper carinae sparsely serrated, with the
sulci of the outer area marked with brown, two spots
on the inner surface. Hind tibiae towards the extremity
dull blue, with from 12 to 15 spines on the outer carina,
tarsi dull blue, tibiae and tarsi very pilose. Supra-anal
plate of the male elongate triangular, sulcated, cerci
straight, rounded or slightly compressed, acuminate.
Material examined: 5 male, 6 female, 22. III. 2007,
A.M.U campus, on grasses, 4 male, 6 female, 23. III.
2007 AMU Fort, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 32.5, Antennae 11.0, Pronotum 7.5,
Tegmen 25.5, Hind femur 23.5, Hind tibia 21.0.
Female: Body 36.0, Antennae 13.0, Pronotum 7.5,
Tegmen 29.5, Hind femur 29.0, Hind tibia 26.0
Remarks: This species was reported to have caused
severe defoliation of young teak.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Goa,
Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh.
SUBFAMILY CATANTOPINAE BRUNNER,
1893
14. Catantops pinguis innotabilis (Walker, 1870)
Acridium (Catantops) pingue Stal, 1860: Kong.
Svens. Fregatten Eugenies Resa Omkring Jorden,
3: 330.
Acridium delincolatum Walker, 1870a: Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp. 631.
Acridium seqnatipes Walker, 1870a: Part IV. Acrididae
(concluded) pp. 706.
Catantops pinguis (Stal); Uvarov, 1943a: Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist., (11) 10: 127.
Catantops pinguis (Stal); Mishchnko, 1952: Akad.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 4: 471.
Catantops pinguis pinguis (Stal); Dirsh, 1956b: Publ.
Cult. Cia. Diamant. Angola, 28: 103.
Catantops pinguis pinguis (Stal); Willemse: 1957:
Public. Nat. Hist. Gen. Limberg., 10: 466.
Acridium innotabilis Walker, 1870a: Part IV. Acrididae
(concluded) pp. 629.
Caloptenus ferruqineus Walker, 1870a: Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp. 705.
Acridium obtusiferum Walker, 1871: Catalogue of
the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 63.
Caloptenus immunis Walker, 1871: Catalogue of the
Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 67.
Catantops indicus I. Bolivar, 1902: Ann. Soc. Ent.
Fr., 70: 626.
Catantops innotabilis (Walker); Uvarov, 1925a:
Insectes, Orthopteres, Acrididae. 41pp. 30.
Catantops innotabilis (Walker); Uvarov, 1943a: Ann.
Mag. Nat. Hist., (11) 10: 127.
Catantops innotabilis (Walker); Mishchnko, 1952:
Akad. Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 4: 472.
Catantops pinguis innotabilis (Walker); Dirsh &
Uvarov, 1953: Tijdschr. Ent., 96: 233.
Catantops pinguis innotabilis (Walker); Willemse,
1957: Public. Nat. Hist. Gen. Limberg., 10: 467.
Diagnostic characters: Reddish brown, rather stout.
Frontal ridge finely punctured, slightly expanded
between the antennnae, lateral carinae distinct, slightly
divergent, eyes approximating, antennae filiform, about
as long as the head and pronotum together. Pronotum
closely punctured, obtusely angulated behind, carina
slight, continuous, with the sulci well marked. Tegmina
extending beyond the abdomen, slightly narrowed at
the tip, which is rounded, darken towards the base,
and subhyaline towards the tip; wings dull hyaline or
slightly greenish towards the base, the brown nervures,
and slightly clouded at the tip. Under surface of body
and legs pale, prosternal tubercle thick, obtuse.
Abdomen with a short narrow dorsal stripe behind.
Hind femora stout, with two transverse black spots
above, the first extending into the externomedian area,
the lower outer area blackish brown and the upper
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
carinae slightly serrated, hind tibiae and tarsi red, the
former with black tipped spines. Cerci of the male
slightly expanded at the tips.
The species is easily identified by the cercus
which is upcurved, more broadened and upper apical
angle of apex is more projecting. The species is also
easily identified by the character of the hind femur.
Material examined: 5 male, 6 female, 5. IX. 2006,
on grassland, Shamaspur, Etah.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 26.2, Antennae 9.5, Pronotum 6.1, Hind
tibia 12.2.
Female: Body 32.0, Antennae 10.2, Pronotum 8.3,
Tegmen 30.7, Hind femur 19.0, Tibia 15.7.
Remarks: C. pinguis innotablis is widely distributed
in Indian sub-continent and is commonly found in shrubs
and herbs.
Natural enemies: In Thailand adults are affected by
the fungus Entomophthora grylli Fres. (Roffey, 1965).
Red mite Eutrombidium trigonum was also observed
parasitizing this species.
Distribution: Orissa, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
SUBFAMILY CALLIPTAMINAE BRUNNER,
1893
15. Sphodromerus undulatus undulatus (Kirby,
1914)
Sphodromerus undulatus (Kirby) ; Uvarov, 1943c :
Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond., 2 : 81.
Diagnostic characters: Pronotum moderately
tectiform or not so, with or without strong median and
lateral carinae; tegmina variable in development. Hind
femur very robust, pronotum with lateral carinae almost
obliterate or absent. Male cercus well developed,
roughly parallel-sided along most of its length, or
expanded apically, lower apical lobe or lobes much
smaller than upper apical lobe; cercus with outer surface
relatively smooth; posterior tibial spur modified or
unmodified. Dorsum of pronotum slightly cylindrical,
lateral carinae weak or oblitered; prosternal process
sub-conical with obtuse apex.
Material Examined: 6 male, 2 female, 21. III. 2009;
17. III. 2009, Aligarh, University Fort, J.N. Park, on
Vegetable nurseries and Mango orchard.
49
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 19, Pronotum 3.5, Hind femur 10.
Female: Body 20.5, Pronotum 4.5, Hind femur 10.5
Remarks: The species was found in couples on
vegetables, mango orchard and nursery plants.
Natural Enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Punjab
SUBFAMILY COPTACRIDINAE BRUNNER,
1893
16. Eucoptacra praemorsa (Stal, 1860)
Acridium (Catantops) praemorsum Stal, 1860 :
Kong. Svens. Fregatten Eugenies Resa Omkring
Jorden, 3: 330.
Acridium saturatum Walker, 1870a : Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp. 628.
Caloptenus striqifer Walker, 1871 : Catalogue of
the Specimens of Dermaptera Saltatoria etc.
Supplement, part V, pp. 66.
Coptacra praemorsa (Stal) ; Stal, 1873b : Recensio
Orthopterorum, 1 : 58.
Eucoptacra praemorsa (Stal) ; I. Bolivar, 1902 : Ann.
Soc. Ent. Fr., 70: 623.
Eucoptacra praemorsa (Stal) ; Kirby, 1914. Fauna
Brit. India Acrididae,240.
Eucoptacra praemorsa (Stal) ; Willemse, 1957 :
Public. Nat. Hist. Gen. Limberg., 10: 444.
Diagnostic characters : This species can be identified
by its hind wings tinged green basally.
Pronotum weakly tectiform with linear medium
carinulae, cut by three sulci, posterior margin of
metazona angular.Prosternal spine obtusely conical.
Material Examined: 2 male, 4 female, 16. III. 2009;
02. IV. 2009, Aligarh, J.N. Park, on cruciferous
vegetations and fallen leaves of plants.
Morphometry:
Male: Body 23.16, Tegmina 20.01, Pronotum 1.75,
Hind femur 13.77
Female: Body 18.32, Tegmina 19.71, Pronotum 1.35,
Hind femur 13.69
Remarks : The species is found in dense patches of
grass and bushes.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
50 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
Natural enemies : No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution : Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka,
Madhya Pradesh, Naharashtra, Orissa, Tamil nadu and
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
SUBFAMILY TROPIDOPOLINAE
JACOBSON, 1902
17. Tristria pulvinata (Uvarov, 1921)
Tapinophyma pulvinata Uvarov, 1921b : Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist., (9) 7 : 497.
Tristria pulvinata (Uvarov); Uvarov, 1929a : Rev.
Suisse Zool., 36 : 559.
Tristria pulvinata (Uvarov); Hollis, 1970 : J. nat.
Hist., 4 : 465.
Diagnostic characters : Prosternal tubercle is strongly
bent backward, lower surface very broad, concave,
trapezoidal with lateral margins raised and hind margin
lying on mesosternum. Elytra not reaching the apex of
abdomen, wings fully developed.
Material Examined: 2 male, 2 female, 03. IV. 2009,
Aligarh, J.N. Park, S.S. Hall Park, on fallen leaves of
vegetables and lawn grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 18, Pronotum 3.5, Hind femur 9.5.
Female: Body 18.5, Pronotum 4, Hind femur 10.5
Remarks : The species is graminivorous. It is a
grassland species and is found in many species of
grasses.
Natural enemies : No record.
Distribution: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh.
C. FAMILY ACRIDIDAE LATREILLE, 1802
KEY TO SUBFAMILIES OF ACRIDIDAE
LATREILLE, 1802
1- Stridulatory serration on inner side of hind femur
absent .......................................................... 2
- Stridulatory serration on inner side of hind femur
present; its stridulatory file with a series of
articulated pegs ...............................................
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
GOMPHOCERINAE Jacobson and Bianki, 1902
2- Body usually slender; frons oblique; pronotum usually
with lateral carinae; medial area of tegmen usually
without intercalary vein, if present, never serrated
in both sexes ...... ACRIDINAE Latreille, 1802
- Body rather sturdy; frons usually vertical; pronotum
usually without lateral carinae; medial area of
tegmina with intercalary vein usually serrated ....
............... OEDIIPODINAE WALKER, 1870
SUBFAMILY ACRIDINAE LATREILLE, 1802
18. Acrida exaltata (Walker, 1859)
Truxalis exaltata Walker, 1859: Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.,
(3) 4: 222.
Tryalis brevicolis I. Bolivar, 1893: Feuill. Jeun. Nat.,
23: 162, 164.
Acrida lugubris Burr, 1902: Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.,
1902: 157, 170.
Acrida exaltata (Walker); Lefroy, 1909: A manual
of the Insects of plains (Tropical India). Xii+ 82.
Acrida curate Uvarov, 1936: Journ. Linn. Soc. Lond.,
(Zool.), 39: 536.
Acrida exaltata (Walker); Willemse, 1951: Public.
Nat. Hist. Gen. Limburg, 4: 100.
Diagnostic characters: Head conically ascending.
Fastigium broad, laminate and truncate at
apex.Transverse sulcus of pronotum present about the
middle of pronotal disc. Male subgenital plate
comparatively long. Tegmina a little produced beyond
the hind knee and wings slightly shorter than tegmina.
Materials examined: 5 male, 5 female, 6. X. 2006,
A.M.U Fort and Tala Nagri, Aligarh, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 40.4-57.8; Pronotum 6.2-8.8;
Tegmina33.4-50.5; Hind femur24.4-35.3
Female: Body 57.8-106.2; Pronotum 10.5-15.8;
Tegmina 51.7-92.0; Hind femur 32.0-56.1.
Remarks: This species is widely distributed throughout
plains and hilly regions of Indian sub-continent. It is
abundantly found on grasses.
Natural enemies: This species was found to be
parasitized by Eutrombidium trigonum. It is also
parasitized by a small black Sarcophagid fly and by the
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
Hymenopteran Scelio.
Distribution: Very common and known from many
localities in India. Sikkim, Kashmir, Himalayas, Assam,
Uttar Pradesh.
19. Phlaeoba infumata Brunner von Wattenwyl,
1893
Phlaeoba infumata Brunner, 1893: Ann. Mus. Stor.
Nat. Genova, (2), 13: 124.
Phlaeoba infumata Brunner; Kirby, 1914. Fauna
Brit. India Acrididae, 103.
Phlaeoba infumata Brunner; Uvarov, 1921b: Ann.
Mag. Nat. Hist., (9) 7 : 486.
Phlaeoba infumata Brunner; Willemse, 1951: Public.
Nat. Hist. Gen. Limburg, 4: 85.
Diagnostic characters: Antennae ensiform. Lateral
carinae of pronotum straight, disc of pronotum rugose.
Wings fusco-hyaline, infumated towards the apex.
Subgenital plate of male acute.
Material examined: 2 male, 3 female, 5. X. 2006,
on grasses, Anoopshar road, Aligarh.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 14.2-15.8; Pronotum 8.8-9.2;
Tegmina15.9-16.8; Hind femur 15.1-15.3
Female: Body 21.1-22.3; Pronotum 8.7-10.1 Tegmina
25.125.8; Hind femur 16.1-17.5
Remarks: This species occurs in sugarcane fields.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar,
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
20. Paraphloeba platyceps (Bolivar, 1902)
Paraphloeba platyceps I. Bolivar, 1902: Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr., 70: 593.
Paraphloeba platyceps I. Bolivar; Kirby, 1914.
Fauna Brit. India Acrididae, 108.
Diagnostic characters: Foveolae absent; pronotum
truncate behind; tegmina lanceolate. Fastigial foveolae
obsolete or not visible from above. Tegmina rudimentary;
antenna with basal half depressed.
Material Examined: 4 male, 1female 15. III. 2009;
29. III. 2009, Aligarh, Suliaman Hall, J.N. Park, on
51
green grass and vegetations nursery.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 18, Tegmina 6, Pronotum 2, Hind femur 13.
Female: Body 19.6, Tegmina 7.1, Pronotum 2.6, Hind
femur 14.3
Remarks: The specimens were found on green grass,
vegetables and nursery plants.
Natural Enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Chennai
21. Orthochtha indica Uvarov, 1942
Orthochtha indica Uvarov, 1942b: Ann. Mag. Nat.
Hist., (11) 9: 587.
Diagnostic characters: Antennae much longer than
head and pronotum together; frontal ridge sulcate.
Pronotum with lateral carinae diverging in metazona.
Material Examined: 3 male, 2 female, 02. II. 2009;
17. III. 2009, Aligarh, University Fort, Allama Iqbal
ground, on dry lawn grass.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 20, Tegmina 17, Pronotum 3, Hind femur 12.
Female: Body 20.9, Tegmina 18.1, Pronotum 3.4, Hind
femur 12.8.
Remarks: It is graminivorous and generally associated
with grasses in wet places.
Natural Enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim
SUBFAMILY OEDIPODINAE WALKER, 1870
22. Trilophidia annulata (Thunberg, 1815)
Gryllus annulatus Thunberg, 1815: Mem. Acad. Sci.
St. Petersb., 5: 234.
Gryllus bidens Thunberg, 1815: Mem. Acad. Sci. St.
Petersb., 5: 235.
Acridium (Oedipoda) vulneratum De Hann, 1842:
Part 12, Zoologie: Orthoptera, 45: 163.
Oedipoda cristella Stal, 1860: Kong. Svens.
Fregatten Eugenies Resa Omkring Jorden, 3: 344.
Epacromia aspera Walker, 1870a: Part IV. Acrididae
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
52 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
(concluded) pp. 775.
Epacromia turpis Walker, 1870a: Part IV. Acrididae
(concluded) pp.775.
Epacromia nigricans Walker, 1870a: Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp.776.
Trilophidia annulata (Thunberg); Stal, 1873b:
Recensio Orthopterorum, 1: 131.
Trilophidia annulata (Thunberg); Hollis, 1965: Trans.
R. ent. Soc. Lond., 117: 251.
Diagnostic characters: Pronotum rugose with a high
median carina, forming two teeth in front and with a
lateral carina, hind wings yellow at base and brown
black at beyond. Hind tibia brown with pale band
towards the base and another beyond the middle.
Material examined: 1male, 2 female, 23. X. 2006,
AMU Fort and AMU Campus, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 9.7-9.8, Pronotum 3.8-4.3, Tegmina 16.1-
16.8, Hind Femur 8.5-8.9
Female: Body 11.111.7, Pronotum 4.14.7, Tegmina
18.018.5, Hind Femur 9.29.5
Remarks: Common throughout the Oriental region.
Found in paddy, sugarcane, groundnut, cholam etc.
Natural enemies: This species has been found to be
a preferred host of the hymenopteran Scelio
aegyptiacus Priesner. Red mite Eutrombidium
trigonum was also observed parasitizing this species.
The fungus Entomophthura grylli Fres. has affected
adults in Thailand (Roffey, 1968).
Distribution: Goa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala.
23. Acrotylus humbertianus Saussure, 1884
Acrotylus humbertianus Saussure, 1884: Mem. Soc.
Phys. Geneve, 28: 189.
Acrotylus humbertianus Saussure; Kirby, 1914.
Fauna Brit. India Acrididae, 153.
Acrotylus humbertianus Saussure; Bei-Bienko &
Mishchenko, 1951: Akad. Nauk SSSR, Moscow, Part
I, no. 38: 242.
Diagnostic characters: Body pubescent, tip of vertex
conical, concave, pronotum finely carinate. Prozona with
two fuscus fascia. The lateral margins white below.
Wings hyaline, yellow at the base. Radial area with a
seminular fuscus fascia, posterior femora fascinate.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Material examined: 1female, 24. IX. 2006, AMU
Fort, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Female: Body 12.813.1, Pronotum 5.86.5, Tegmina
20.120.3, Hind Femur 10.310.5
Remarks: It has been found damaging rice and millet
in India.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Goa,
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.
24. Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker, 1870)
Epacromia simulatrix Walker, 1870a: Part IV.
Acrididae (concluded) pp. 773.
Heteropternis savignyi Krauss, 1890: Verh. Zool.
bot. Ges. Wien, 40: 262.
Epacromia affinis I. Bolivar, 1902: Ann. Soc. Ent.
Fr., 70: 600.
Aeolopus laticosta I. Bolivar, 1912a: Trans. Linn. Soc.
Lond. (Zool.), 15: 268.
Ailopus simulatrix (Walker); Harz, 1975: The Hague,
viii+ 939 pp. 555.
Diagnostic characters: It is popularly known as
Sudan Plague locust and is a serious pest of grain and
many other crops. The species is variable in general
coloration, size, relative length of tegmina and width of
hind femur. It can easily be distinguished by its broad
hind femur which is longer than hind tibia and by the
form of frontal ridge and pronotum.
Material examined: 3 male, 5 female, 25. X. 2006,
Tala Nagri, Aligarh, on grasses and crops.
Mophometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 11.211.7, Pronotum 6.47.1, Tegmina
17.317.7
Hind femur 7.37.8
Female: Body 13.313.9, Pronotum 7.18.3, Tegmina
22.323.1, Hind Femur 11.3 11.7
Remarks: A common pest of agricultural crops.
Collected in groundnut, paddy, cholam, ragi and brinjal,
as well as from grasslands.
Natural enemies: Adults were found to be parasitized
by the flies Blaesoxipha anceps Villen. at a low level
(Greathead 1966). Larvae of the mite Leptus sp. have
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
been found to be ectoparasite.
Distribution: Andaman & Nikobar Islands, Bihar,
Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Punjab, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar
Pradesh, West Bengal.
25. Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss, 1877)
Pachytylus senegalensis Krauss, 1877: S. B. Akad.
Wiss. Wien, 76: 56.
Ctypohippus arenivolans Butler, 1881: Proc. Zool.
Soc. Lond., 1881: 85.
Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss); Saussure, 1884:
Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve, 28: 110.
Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss); Kirby, 1914. Fauna
Brit. India Acrididae, 143.
Oedaleus senegalensis (Krauss); Ritchie, 1981: Bull.
Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 42: 94.
Diagnostic characters: A characteristics X mark on
the Pronotum, which is broadly rounded posteriorly.
Hind wing yellow basally with complete dark fascia.
Material examined: 2 female, 22. X. 2006, AMU
Fort, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 21-26, Pronotum 3.55, Tegmina 18-20,
Hind femur 12-14.
Female: Body 28-37, Pronotum 5.57, Tegmina 26-
32, Hind femur 14-18.
Remarks: Widely distributed in Indian sub-continent
and is commonly found in groundnut.
Natural enemies: Eutrombidium trigonum
(Hermann, 1804) was found parasitizing this species.
Eggs were observed to be attacked by the flies
Xeramoeba oophagus (Par.) by Greathead (1963).
Both hoppers and adults were observed to be attacked
by many species of lizards, snakes and birds.
Distribution: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Meghalaya, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
26. Oedipoda miniata (Pallas, 1771)
Gryllus miniatus Pallas, 1771: Reisen durch
verschiedene Provinzen des russischen Reiches in
den Jahren, 1: 467.
Gryllus salinus Gmelin, 1790: Systema Natureae,
revised. 13th edn. 1: 2083.
53
Acrydium germanicum Costa, 1836: Ortotteri. 52 +
16pp. 17.
Oedipoda gratiosa Serville, 1838: Orthopteres, 776
pp. 727.
Oedipoda miniata (Pallas); Brunner, 1882: Prodromus
der europaischen Orthopteren, 466 pp. 162.
Oedipoda miniata (Pallas); Uvarov, 1923c: J. Bombay
nat. Hist. Soc., 29: 643.
Oedipoda miniata (Pallas); Steinmann, 1965a: Fol.
Ent. Hung., 18: 105.
Diagnostic characters: Wings mostly rugose and the
the dark band often pale brown, strongly bowed
reaching upto IXth or Xth section of anal fan and not
touching hind margin (Harz, 1975). Integuments often
less rugose and less callous. Facial carinula mostly
without projections. Dark fasciae of wings extending
towards the base by one longitudinal band into the
anterior field.
Material examined: 2 female, 11.IX.2007, AMU
fort, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 16-21, Pronotum 4-5.2; Tegmina, 18-23,
Hind femur 9.512
Female: Body 21-27, Pronotum 5-6.8; Tegmina, 23-
29; Hind femur, 13.5-15.
Remarks: This species can be easily distinguished from
O. coerulescens (Linnaeus, 1758) because its wings
are basally red.
Natural enemies: Adults were observed to be
parasitized by the fly Blaesoxipha lineata (Fall.).
Distribution: Uttar Pradesh.
27. Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Gryllus (Locusta) migratorius Linnaeus, 1758:
Systema Naturae, 10th ed. 1: 432.
Gryllus (Locusta) denicus Linnaeus, 1767: Systema
Naturae, 12th ed. reformata, I, 2. Holmiae: 702.
Gryllus cinerascens Fabricius, 1781: Species
Insectorum, 1: 369.
Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus); Uvarov, 1921a: Bull.
ent. Res. 12: 137.
Locusta migratoria (Linnaeus); Bei- Bienko &
Mishchenko, 1951: Akad. Nauk SSSR, Moscow, Part I,
no. 38: xxi + 400 pp; Part II, no. 40: xxi + 291 pp. 218.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
54 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
Diagnostic characters: It occurs in green and brown
form in the solitary phase. The species can easily be
identified from other Locusts by the absence of
prosternal process, the slight yellow tinting of the wings
and the black anal veins are distinctive features of the
species.
Material Examined: 1 female, 16.X.2008,
Mahamaya Nagar, Sasni, on Sudan grass.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 36.8, Pronotum 3.9, Tegmina 39.6, Hind
femur 18.2.
Remarks: Though quite strict graminivorous and
capable of causing considerable damage to grain crops,
very many plants belonging to different families have
been recorded as food. It was collected from roadside
Sudan grass.
Natural enemies: It is sometimes heavily infested with
mites.
Distribution: Assam, Bengal, Kashmir, South India,
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal,
Maharashtra.
SUBFAMILY TRUXALINAE WALKER, 1870
28. Truxalis nasuta (Linnaeus, 1758)
Gryllus Acrida nasuta Linnaeus, 1758: Systema
Naturae, 10th ed. 1: 427.
Truxalis erythropterus Latereille, 1804: Orthoptera,
Acrididae, 12: 148.
Truxalis annulatus Thunberg, 1815: Mem. Acad. Sci.
St. Petersb., 5: 267.
Truxalis nebulosus Thunberg, 1815: Mem. Acad. Sci.
St. Petersb., 5: 267.
Truxalis bilineatus Thunberg, 1815: Mem. Acad. Sci.
St. Petersb., 5: 268.
Truxalis undatus Thunberg, 1827: Nova Acta Soc.
Sci. upsal., 9: 78, 82.
Truxalis variabilis Klug, 1830: Boroliniex offician
Acad., p1. 17, f. 5.
Truxalis conspurcata Klug; Harz, 1975: The Hague,
viii + 939pp. 434.
Truxalis scalaris Klug, 1830: Boroliniex offician
Acad., p1. 15, f. 3, 4.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Truxalis procera Klug, 1830: Boroliniex offician
Acad., p1. 16, f. 2.
Truxalis absoleta Klug, 1830: Boroliniex offician
Acad., p1. 16, f. 1.
Truxalis pharaonis Klug, 1830: Boroliniex offician
Acad., p1. 14.
Truxalis unguiculata Rambur, 1838: Orthoptera, 2:
72.
Truxalis isabellina Fischer; Harz, 1975: The Hague,
viii + 939pp. 434.
Truxalis nasuta (Linnaeus); Dirsh, 1950: Eos. Madr.,
1950: 155.
Diagnostic characters: The species can easily be
identified by its pronotum sellate, hind wing strongly
dark brown tessellate, basally crimson in female.
Material Examined: 2 male, 5 female 18.X.2008,
Aligarh, University Fort, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 55, Tegmina 42.5, Pronotum 6, Hind femur
32.
Female: Body 67, Tegmina 61, Pronotum 7, Hind femur
45.
Remarks: Graminivorous. It is usually found in old
farmland. Also found in sparse gramineous vegetation
and some occur even in cultivated fields.
Natural enemeies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Rajasthan.
SUBFAMILY GOMPHOCERINAE
JACOBSON & BlANKI, 1902
Comments: Dirsh (1965) placed the
Gomphocerine genera under the subfamily Truxalinae.
Uvarov (1966) divided the Truxalinae of Dirsh (1965)
into two groups: Gomphocerinae in which the
stridulatory file consists of a series of peg hairs, and
Truxalinae in which the file consists of unmodified hairs
lying between peg-like cuticular expansion.
Rehn and Grant (1960) attacked subfamily
criteria of Uvarov. They were of the opinion that heavy
emphasis on stridulatory mechanism was unjustified.
Jago (1969, 1971) followed Uvarov (1966) and used
the name and subfamily rank Gomphocerinae. Harz
 Studies on Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh
(1975), Dirsh (1975) and other recent workers also
treated Gomphocerinae as subfamily of Acrididae.
29. Ochrilidia geniculata (I. Bolivar, 1913)
Platypterna geniculata I. Bolivar, 1913: Novit. Zool.,
20: 608.
Platypterna kraussi I. Bolivar, 1913: Novit. Zool.,
20: 606.
Platypterna rothschidi I. Bolivar, 1913: Novit. Zool.,
20: 607.
Platypterna pictipes Uvarov, 1922e: J. Bombay nat.
Hist. Soc., 28: 359.
Platypterna ladakiae Salfi, 1931: Eos. Madr., 7: 300.
Platypterna nilotica Salfi, 1931: Eos. Madr., 7: 307.
Platypterna variopicta Salfi, 1931: Eos. Madr., 7: 311.
Platypternopsis bivittata Chopard, 1947: Rev. franc.
Ent., 13: 151.
Ochrilidia geniculata (I. Bolivar); Chopard, 1949:
Bull. Soc. Sci. nat. Maroc., 25-27: 193.
Ochrilidia geniculata (I. Bolivar); Jago, 1977: Acrida,
6: 177.
Diagnostic characters: It can easily be identified by
its lower edge of temporal foveolae clearly visible from
above, antennae as long as or slightly longer than head
and pronotum together. Hind femur with black spot on
inner side of knees.
Material examined: 2 male, 05. XII. 2007,
Shamaspur, Etah, on bushes.
Morphometry: (Length in mm)
Male: Body 9.3, Pronotum 4.0, Tegmina 13.3, Hind
femur 7.9.
Remarks: It is widely distributed and recorded in
grasslands and sub-desert areas.
Natural enemies: Eggs were observed to be
attacked by Scelio mauritanicus Risbee and S.
princes Nixon in Eritrea by Nixon (1958).
Distribution: Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh.
30. Chorthippus indus Uvarov, 1942
Chorthippus indus Uvarov, 1942a: Trans. Amer. Ent.
Soc., 67: 98.
Chorthippus indus Uvarov; Bei-Bienko &
Mishchenko, 1951: Akad. Nauk SSSR, Moscow, Part
I, no. 38: xxi + 400 pp; Part II, no. 40: xxi + 291 pp.
137.
55
Diagnostic characters: Colour variable, green,
testacious or brown. Antennae sub depressed, longer
than the head and pronotum together. Pronotum with
transverse sulcus placed about the middle, the head
not carinated above, the pronotum strongly tricarinate,
the median carina slightly raised, the lateral carina slightly
incurved before the middle and then diverging. Tegmina
longer then abdomen in a male usually shorter in the
female, sometimes with longitudinal yellow scapular
lines. Wings hyaline with brown nervures. Front leg
pilose not spotted, hind tibia with about twelve small
spines, decreasing in size towards the base. Subgenital
plate in the male is curved, pubescent, valves of the
ovipositor unarmed.
Material examined: 2 female, 23. XII. 2006, AMU
petrol pump, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Female: Body 9.8, Pronotum 6.1, Tegmina 14.7, Hind
Femur 11.3
Remarks: It is a large species other than those already
recorded. It may well become minor pests at times.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh.
31. Leva indica (I. Bolivar, 1902)
Gymnobothrus indicus I. Bolivar, 1902: Ann. Soc.
Ent. Fr., 70: 596.
Leva indica (I. Bolivar); I. Bolivar, 1909: Bol. Soc.
Esp. Hist. nat., 9: 292.
Gymnobothrus indicus I. Bolivar; Kirby, 1914.
Fauna Brit. India Acrididae,113.
Leva indica (I. Bolivar); Uvarov, 1921b: Ann. Mag.
Nat. Hist., (9) 7: 485.
Diagnostic characters: Testacious, varied with brown
faveolae of the vertex subquadrate, filled up with black
frontal carina impress punctuate, sulcate at the ocellus
for a large space in the male, a short space in the female.
Antennae filiform, slightly depressed. Pronotum pale
above. Tegmina subhyaline with a yellow spacular line
and brown discoid spots. Hind femora with four brown
bands, often obsolete on the outer side.
Material examined: 2 male, 3 female, 15. XI. 2006,
AMU fort, AMU campus, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
56 MOHD. KAMIL USMANI, MOHD. IMRAN KHAN AND HIRDESH KUMAR
Male: Body 15.2 15.0, Pronotum 7.37.5, Tegmina
14.014.9, Hind Femur 10.1 10.5
Female: Body 17.4 17.6, Pronotum 8.9 9.1,
Tegmina 19.8 20.1, Hind Femur 11.9 12.1
Remarks: It is very small species. Lateral carinae of
pronotum parallel in prozona and strongly divergent in
metazona which is the most characteristic feature of
the species. Abundantly found on grasses and paddy
crops.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies are recorded.
Distribution: West Bengal, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Tripura,
Uttar Pradesh.
32. Aulacobothrus luteipes (Walker, 1871)
Stenobothrus luteips Walker, 1871, Cat. Derm. Salt.
Br. Mus. London, 62.
Aulacobothrus taeniatus I. Bolivar, 1902, Annls. Soc.
Ent. Fr. , 596.
Aulacobothrus luteips (Walker); Uvarov, 1921, Ann.
Mag. Nat. Hist., (9)7: 482.
Diagnostic characters: Head short, slightly reclinate,
antennae filiform, reaching beyond the posterior margin
of the pronotum, middle carina running from the top of
the fastigium upto the posterior part of the pronotum,
lateral carinae distinct, slightly arcuate fastigum of vertex
sloping, more or less triangular, especially in the male,
apex acutely or obtusely rounded, tegmina and wings
well developed. Hind femur yellowish brown, knee
black, hind tibia red.
Material examined: 2 male, 5. XII. 2006, AMU Fort,
on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 10.8, Pronotum 5.7, Tegmina 15.1, Hind
Femur 10.7.
Remarks: This species has been recorded as a minor
pest on the foliage of teak in India.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Himachal
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Sikkim,
Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
33. Mesopsis cylindricus (Kirby, 1914)
Aswatthamanus cylindricus Kirby, 1914. Fauna Brit.
India Acrididae,101.
Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)
Lefroya acutipennis Kirby, 1914. Fauna Brit. India
Acrididae,219.
Mesopsis cylindricus (Kirby); Jago, 1969: Proc. Acad.
Nat. Sci. Philad., 121: 253.
Diagnostic characters
This species can easily be identified by its elongated
body, eyes nearer the base than the apex, antennae
shorter than head and pronotum together, tegmina very
long, narrow and pointed, subhyaline, long, narrow and
pointed but shorter than the tegmina.
Material Examined: 4 male, 3 female, 15.I.2007,
Kashiram Nagar, Gangdundwara, on grasses.
Morphometry: (length in mm)
Male: Body 30, Pronotum 3.4, Tegmina 26.7, Hind
femur 10.8.
Female: Body 51.9, Pronotum 4, Tegmina 37, Hind
femur 15.9.
Remarks: The species is rarely found in Northern
places. It is graminivorous, feeding primarily on grasses.
Its main habitat is grasslands areas. Few species were
collected from mango orchard.
Natural enemies: No natural enemies have been
recorded.
Distribution: Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya
Pradesh.
Acknowledgement
We wish to extend our gratitude to Department
of Science & Technology, New Delhi for providing
financial assistance during the tenure of a major research
project (Ref. No. SR/SO/AS 32/2008) being carried out
on Biosystematics and Biodiversity of Acridoidea
(Orthoptera) in North India. Thanks are also due to Prof.
Asif Ali Khan, Chairman, Department of Zoology, Aligarh
Muslim University, Aligarh for providing necessary
facilities.
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Received: 13-11-2009
Accepted: 30-05-2010

Biosystematica, 2010, 4(1)