Zoological Studies

Vol. 50 No. 6, 2011

Seasonal Occurrence of Life Stages of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) in the Southern Pampas, Argentina

Yanina Mariottini1,*, María L. De Wysiecki1, and Carlos E. Lange1,2

1Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (UNLP-CCT La Plata-CONICET). Calle 2 N° 584, CP 1900, La Plata, Argentina
2Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas (CIC), provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Yanina Mariottini, María L. De Wysiecki, and Carlos E. Lange (2011) The seasonal occurrence of life stages of grasshopper species of the Southern Pampas was studied through sampling of representative habitats for 5 seasons (Nov. 2005 through Jan. 2010) in Laprida County, Buenos Aires Province. Twenty-two species were collected, 11 of which were very abundant. Ten species had 1 generation per year (univoltine), of which 9 (Aleuas lineatus, Borellia bruneri, B. pallida, Covasacris pallidinota, Dichroplus conspersus, D. elongatus, D. maculipennis, D. pratensis, and Scotussa lemniscata) spent the winter in the egg stage, with younger nymphs (instars I, II, and III) occurring from mid-spring (Oct.-Nov.). The period of maximum abundance of nymphs was from Nov. to mid-Dec. From Jan., most species had a higher proportion of adults, which was the dominant state by mid-autumn (Mar.-Apr.). Only 1 species (Sinipta dalmani) spent the winter as a nymph. Baeacris pseudopunctulactus was the only species with more than 1 generation per year.

Key words: Acrididae, Univoltine, Multivoltine, Nymph, Adult.

*Correspondence: Tel: 54-0221-4233471. Fax: 54-0221-4233471 ext. 12. E-mail:ymariottini@cepave.edu.ar