Habitat associations of Grasshoppers at the MacarthurAgro-Ecology Research Center, Lake Placid, Florida

Abstract

Grasshopper populations of the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center at Lake Placid, in south-central Florida were monitored during the period 1993-1995. Samples were taken monthly during the spring, summer, and autumn months from 3 discrete habitats: citrus groves, improved pastures, and weedy margins of irrigation ditches. The grasshopper species assemblage at the Research Center consisted of 16 species in the family Acrididae, 7 species in the family Tettigoniidae, and 3 species in the family Tetrigidae. Family and species dominance varied among habitats. Grasshopper abundance was highest in citrus groves and ditch margins, and these habitats had proportionally more acridids. Pastures were inhabited by fewer grasshoppers, and were dominated by tettigoniids. The nymphal tettigoniid population was relatively high, and adult population relatively low, in pastures. Tetrigids were infrequent in all habitats. The most abundant grasshoppers were Dichromorpha viridis (Scudder) and Conocephalus fasciatus (DeGeer), grass-feeding species that were abundant in all habitats sampled. Collection of Melanoplus bispinosus Scudder is a new state record. Potential effects of grasshoppers and land management on avifauna are discussed.