Trends in Biosciences 5 (1): 17-19, 2012

Impact of Abiotic Factors on Population of Acridoid Fauna (Orthoptera) in Fort, , India MD. HUMAYOON AKHTAR, MOHD. KAMIL USMANI AND MD. RASHID NAYEEM Section of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002 email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT significant damage to tree seedlings and agricultural crops A regular survey was carried out weekly during the period of (Joshi, et al., 1999). Most grasshoppers are oligophagous January to December 2011 from Aligarh Fort to record Acridoid and exhibit definite host preferences (Mulkern, 1967), fauna. Their population have been compared with three abiotic according to which grasshoppers are classified as grass- factors i.e., temperature, humidity and rainfall. Altogether 29 feeders (graminivorous), forb-feeders (forbivorous) or a mix species representing 21 genera belonging to 3 tribes, 7 of the two (ambivorous or mixed feeders). subfamilies and three families have been recorded from this region. Out of 29 species Acrididae, Catantopidae and MATERIALS AND METHODS Pyrgomorphidae are represented by 14, 10 and 5 species Weekly observations were recorded during the period respectively. Maximum number of specimens as well as species have been recorded in the month of August, September and of January to December 2011 to assess the distribution and October whereas minimum number of specimens and species diversity of grasshoppers in Aligarh fort. Grasshoppers were recorded in the month of December, January and February. collected through net sweeping and hand picking method Acridoid population positively correlate with maximum and killed using bottle having ethyl acetate. For the purpose temperature, minimum temperature, minimum relative of correct identification and photography the grasshoppers humidity and rainfall but do not correlate with maximum were stretched, pinned and labeled and examined under stereo relative humidity. microscope and later kept in store boxes and cabinets for further studies. For detailed study of genitalia permanent Key words Abiotic factors, Aligarh fort, Acrididae, Catantopidae, slides were prepared and drawn it with the help of Camera Pyrgomorphidae Lucida. Meterological records were obtained from Department of Physics, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh. The number Aligarh Fort located in the city of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh of specimens collected from three sites has been shown in situated on the Grand Trunk road and consists of a regular Table 1, 2, and 3 respectively. Diversity was calculated by polygon, surrounded by a very broad and deep ditch. Actually using formula provided by Shannon - Wiener through the site is all natural but has maintained queue of hedges and SPECDIV program. patches. There were grasses (Cynodon spp.) in the fort found throughout the year. Aligarh a district of Uttar Pradesh, situated H = pi log 2pi at latitude 27.88°N, altitude 78.08°E having subtropical climate. Where, H = Diversity index, Pi = ni/N is the probability Average temperatures range between 28–33 °C. The monsoon of an individual to belong to a species. starts in late June continuing till early October, with high ni = Number of individuals of each species in the sample. humidity levels. Aligarh gets most of its annual rainfall of N = Total number of individuals of all species in the samples. decrease, and winter starts in December which continues till RESUL early February. Temperatures range between 12–16 °C. Winters in Aligarh are generally mild, but fog and cold snaps may Twenty nine species representing 21 genera belonging occur. to 3 tribes, 7 subfamilies and 3 families have been recorded from this region (Table 1). Maximum of 720 specimens have Acrdoidea is one of the most important out of four been recorded in the month of September at 34.8°C and lowest superfamilies of Caelifera which comprises five families out of at 22.4°C while minimum number recorded is 122 in the month which Acrididae, Catantopidae and Pyrgomorphidae are of January at temperature 23.5°C and lowest at 3.4°C (Table 2). widely distributed in India. Members of Acridoidea are With gradual increase of temperature and relative humidity, commonly known as locusts and grasshoppers. Grasshoppers their population also increases but the result shows that 35°C are of great economic importance, because they constitute an is optimum temperature for grasshopper and locust population important group of pests and pose a constant threat to cereal in Aligarh. Mondal and Shishodia, 1982 also recorded maximum crops, pulses, vegetables, orchards, grassland and forest population at 29°C from Calcutta. Out of total Acridoid plantations all over the world. Some grasshoppers cause population family Acrididae constitutes maximum of 48%, 18 Trends in Biosciences 5 (1), 2012

Table 1. Population of Acridoid fauna in Aligarh Fort 2011 Months Temperature (°C) Humidity (%) Rainfall No. of Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum (mm) grasshoppers January 23.5 3.4 97 53 0.00 122 February 29.6 7.5 98 51 57.0 125 March 35.6 10.0 93 30 3.6 140 April 43.0 15.8 74 19 16.0 369 May 44.0 20.8 73 22 45.0 215 June 44.4 23.4 98 26 98.0 140 July 37.4 24.8 98 46 365.8 480 August 35.8 24.4 98 58 223.4 720 September 34.8 22.4 97 52 85.6 628 October 34.6 15.4 81 36 0.00 602 November 32.0 11.6 98 51 0.00 275 December 28.8 4.6 97 49 0.00 206 followed by Catantopidae with 35% while least 17% by Pyrgomorphidae (Figure 1.). This result correlates with Usmani, et al., 2010 who described thirty three species of locusts and grasshoppers from western Uttar Pradesh which constitutes 16 species of Acrididae, 13 species of Catantopidae and 4 species of Pyrgomorphidae. Grasshoppers of the family Acrididae were recorded from Tamil Nadu. This result also relates with Nayeem and Usmani, 2012 who have recorded 41 species of Acridoidea from Jharkhand. 17 species of acridids were recorded by Julka, et al., 1982 from different sites of Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Acrida exaltata was recorded throughout the year which is in conformity of the result of Figure 1. Composition of Acridoid fauna in Aligarh Fort Susanta and Halder, 1998 from west Bengal but contrary to the result of Azim, et al., 2010. Oedaleus abruptus not found throughout the year which is contrary to the result of Khan and Aziz, 1973 from Kashmir. Joshi, et al., 1999 collected total seven species of Acrididae and two species of Pyrgomorphidae from the moist deciduous forest in India. Influence of three climatic factors i.e. maximum and minimum temperature, relative humidity maximum and minimum and rainfall on acridoid population fluctuation was analyzed statistically. A study of coefficient of correlation shows that population of acridoids positively correlate with maximum Figure 2. Species accumulation of Acridoids in Aligarh Fort temperature, minimum temperature, minimum relative humidity and rainfall but do not correlate with maximum relative Table 2. Relationship between Acridoid population and humidity. Maximum temperature, maximum & minimum relative climatic factors humidity and rainfall as individual factor have no signifance Climatic factors Cor-relation Significance positive or negative correlation with population of acridoids coefficient (r) (p) but minimum temperature shows a significant positive Maximum temperature 0.149 ns correlation (Table 3). Minimum temperature 0.612 s Relative humidity (Max.) -0.056 ns Maximum number of species have been recorded in the Relative humidity (Min.) 0.287 ns month of August, September and October whereas minimum Rainfall 0.469 ns number of specimens and species recorded in the month of Regression line. December, January and February (Figure 2.). Shannon Y= 36.86- 0.13x - 9.49x + 18.30x +1.09x +0.86x 1 2 3 4 5 Diversity index (3.04) indicates richness of acridoid fauna in S= Significant at p (0.005), ns= Not significant, Y= Population of Aligarh Fort. Fort is rich in grasses and bearing an undisturbed Acridoids ecosystem. Present findings indicate that undisturbed grass x1= Maximum temperature, x2= Minimum temperature, x3= Relative humidity (Max.), ecosystem inside the fort supports a large number of x4= Relative humidity (Min.), x5= Rainfall grasshopper species. AKHTAR et al., Impact of Abiotic Factors on Population of Acridoid Fauna (Orthoptera) in Aligarh Fort, Uttar Pradesh 1 9

Table 1. Distribution of Acridoid fauna in Aligarh Fort during January - December 2011 Species January February March April May June July August September October November December Acrida exaltata + + + + + + + + + + + + Acrida gigentea + + + + + + + + + + + + Phlaeoba infumata _ _ + + + + + + + _ _ _ Phlaeoba panteli _ _ + + + + + + + _ _ _ Orthoctha indica _ _ _ _ _ + + + + _ _ Ceracris nigricornis ______+ + _ _ Trilophidia anuulata + + _ _ + + + + + + + + Trilophidia repleta + + _ _ + + + + + + + + Oedaleus abruptus _ _ + + + + + + + + + _ Oedaleus seneglensis _ _ + + + + + + + + + _ Aiolopus simulatrix _ _ _ + + + + + + + + _ Locusta migratoria _ _ _ _ + + + + + + _ _ Oedipoda miniata _ _ _ _ + + + + + _ _ _ Gastrimargus africanus _ _ _ _ + + + + + _ _ _ Chrotogonus trachypterus _ + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ Chrotogonus armatus + + + + + + + _ _ _ _ _ Atractomorpha burri + + + + + + + + + + + + Atractomorpha psittacina + + + + + + + + + + + + Pyrgomorpha conica _ _ _ _ + + + + + _ _ _ Catantops karnyi + + ______+ + + + Catantops pinguis _ + ______+ + + + Schistocerca gregaria ______+ + + + _ Eyprepocnemis alacris ______+ + + + _ Heteracris littoralis ______+ + + + _ Choroedocus robustus ______+ + + + _ Spathosternum prasiniferum + + + + + + + + + + + + Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus ______+ + + + + _ Oxya velox ______+ + + + _ Oxya fuscovittata ______+ + + + _

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT population of hoppers and adults of Oedaleus abruptus (Thunberg) Indian Journal of Entomology. 35 Authors are grateful to Prof. Irfan Ahmad, Chairman, 300-305. Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Mondal, S.K. and Shishodia, M. S. 1982. Population fluctuation of for providing necessary facilities and also to Chairman, grasshopper fauna in a field near Culcutta. Pro. Symp. Ecol. Anim. Department of Physics, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh Popul. Zool. Surv. India. 3: 127-132. for providing meteorological data of Aligarh. Mulkern, G.B. 1967. Food selection by grasshoppers. Annual Review of Entomology, 12: 59-78. LITERATURE CITED Nayeem, M. R. and Usmani, M. K. 2012. Taxonomy and field observations of grasshopper and locust fauna (Orthoptera: Azim, M. Nayyar., Reshi, Shabir. A. and Rather. Ajaz Hassan. 2010. Acridoidea) of Jharkhand, India. Munis Entomology & Zoology, Observation on the seasonal variation in population of three species 7(1): 391-417. of grasshoppers (Orthoptera : Acrididae) of Kashmir Himalaya. Journal of Entomological Research. 34 (4) : 259-264 Prakash, C. Joshi., Jeffrey, A. Lockwood., N, Vashishth and A. Singh. 1999. Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) Community Dynamics Julka, J.M., Tandon, S.K., Halder, P. and Shishodia, M.S. 1982. Ecological in a Moist Deciduous Forest in India. J. Orthoptera Res. 8: 17-23 observation on grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) at Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. Oriental Insects, 16(1): 63-75. Susanta, N. and Halder, P. 1998. Population dynamics of the grasshopper Acrida exaltata (Walker) in the arid zone of West Bengal. Indian Joshi, P.C., Lockwood, J.A., Vashishth, N. and Singh, A. 1999. journal of Interacademicia. 2 Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) community dynamics in a moist deciduous forest in India. Journal of Orthoptera Research, 8: Usmani, M.K, Khan, M.I. and Kumar, H. 2010. Studies on Acridoidea 17-23. (Orthoptera) of Western Uttar Pradesh. Biosystematica, 4(1): 39- 58. Khan, H.R. and Aziz, S.A. 1973. Observation on seasonal variation in Recieved on 16.2.2012 Accepted on 25.3.2012