FOOD HABITS OF DICHROPLUS ELONGATUS GIGLIO-TOS (ORTHOPTERA, ACRIDIDAE, CATANTOPINAE)

Abstract

The species Dichroplus elongatus is a phytophagous grasshopper following Gangwere's classificalion it is
an herbivorous species, because of the structure of the jaws, the observations made and the applied tests.
Its diet consists of leaves of Gramineae and many others varied species of Dicotyledoneae. The species
also consummes new stems and flowers of vegetable crops.
The species is indeed polyphagous since eats a large variety of different vegetables of high valué of
preference. This indícales a high density of populalion in very restricted areas. Due to this it is possible to
find specimens during all summers and part of early fall. The natural vegetalion changes quickly in
these areas because of the hot dry weather.
As human intervention destroyes this habitat, the grasshoper then moves into new non affected
habita ts.