A preliminary study of the biology of the grasshopper Calliptamus wattenwylianus (Orthoptera; Acrididae)

Abstract

Calliptamus wattenwylianus is an important pest grasshopper in the North East of Spain, causing substantial economical losses every year. A study was conducted to determine, for the first time, the biology of this grasshopper. Adult, nymphs and eggs were collected from the field in several locations from Zaragoza (Spain) and reared under different climate conditions. The results indicate that C. wattenwylianus is a univoltine species with embryonic anatrepsis, diapause and catatrepsis. Embryonic development under laboratory conditions was achieved between 83 and 134 days. Climatic requirements for C. wattenwylianus are consistent with those found in other Calliptamus species such as C. abbreviatus from Inner Mongolia steppe. This could be the result of a common phylogenetic pattern. From an environmental viewpoint, C. wattenwylianus, C. barbarus and Dociostaurus maroccanus share ecological niches in the North East of Spain, and hatch at the same temperature range. It could be the result of an adaptation of both species to the same environment