IUCN SSC Grasshopper Specialist Group 2016-2017 Report Axel Hochkirch Mark Bushell Co-Chairs Mission statement Communications Axel Hochkirch (1) The mission of our group is to foster the L Communication Mark Bushell (2) conservation of orthopteroid insects (grasshop- i. Publication of Newshopper newsletter in pers, katydids, crickets, mantids, stick insects) February 2017. (KSR #28) Red List Authority Coordinator and their habitats around the world. We assess Conservation action Baudewijn Odé (3) their conservation status, raise awareness and L Conservation activity engage in practical conservation of this amazing i. National action plans for the Endangered Location/Affiliation and highly diverse group of insects. Zeuneriana marmorata have been published in (1) Trier University, Germany 2017 for Italy and Slovenia. (KSR #21) (2) Bristol Zoo, UK Main activities by Key Priority Area L Research activity (3) FLORON, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2016 & 2017) i. Use of sniffing dogs for population monitoring Barometer of life of the Critically Endangered Prionotropis Number of members L Red List rhodanica tested in 2017, and will be continued 101 i. Red List assessment of 17 Bladder grasshop- in 2018. (KSR #12) pers (Family Pneumoridae). Maps completed, Increasing diversity of SSC Social networks assessments in progress, will be submitted in L Scientific meetings Facebook: 2018. (KSR #1) i. 1st European Congress on Orthoptera https://www.facebook.com/groups/IUCN.GSG/ ii. Red List assessment of 84 Agile grasshop- Conservation, conducted in March 2016 at Trier pers (Subfamily Euryphyminae). Species list University. Next one will be in September 2018 compiled, assessments started, will be in Slovakia. (KSR #28) submitted in 2018. (KSR #1) iii. Red List assessment of 36 European Acknowledgements mantises. Partly submitted, rest will be finished We are particularly grateful for the constant in 2018. (KSR #1) support by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species iv. Red List assessment of 270 Malagasy grass- Conservation Fund. hoppers. Sixty-four Tetrigidae published in 2017 on IUCN Red List, rest not started yet. (KSR #1) v. Red List assessment of 69 Australian stick insects. (KSR #1) vi. Sampled Red List Index (SRLI) for Orthoptera. Random list created and uploaded in SIS, first working set of 100 species in progress, will be submitted in 2018. (KSR #1) Mahé Boulder Cricket (Phalangacris alluaudi), Critically Endangered Photo: Lucy Neumann-Dominik Schwab Targets for the quadrennium 2017-2020 Projected impact for the quadrennium Summary of activities (2016-2017) Barometer of life 2017-2020 Key Priority Area ratio: 4/7 Red List: (1) Red List assessment of 400 Tanzani- By the end of 2020, we want to increase the Key Priority Areas addressed: number of Orthoptera, Phasmida and Mantodea an Orthoptera species, 17 Bladder grasshoppers • Barometer of life (6 activities) (Family Pneumoridae), 84 Agile grasshoppers species on the IUCN Red List by ca 1,000 • Communications (1 activity) (Subfamily Euryphyminae), 36 European mantis- species. This will help to raise awareness for • Conservation action (2 activities) es, 80 Mediterranean mantises, 4 Razor-backed this species group and foster research and bush-hoppers (Xyronotidae), 3 Tanaoceridae conservation activities. We are particularly • Increasing diversity of SSC (1 activity) grasshoppers and 270 Malagasy grasshoppers; interested in engaging the local park managers Main KSRs addressed: 1, 12, 21, 28 (2) Sampled Red List Index (SRLI) for Orthoptera. to consider grasshoppers, bush-crickets, KSR: Key Species Result crickets, stick insects and mantids in conserva- Research activities: developing monitoring tion planning, monitoring and management. We standards for Orthoptera in Europe. want to increase the number of conservation Conservation action strategies for threatened Orthoptera species Conservation activities: developing a conserva- and help to implement these plans. This will tion strategy for the Endangered Zeuneriana help to avoid future extinctions and set best marmorata in Slovenia and Italy. practice examples for other projects. Research activities: developing and implement- ing a population monitoring program for the Critically Endangered Prionotropis rhodanica..