The genus Melanoplus is currently subdivided into numerous species groups, mostly informally by arrangement in collections. Most of the groups need further study. This paper treats the Viridipes Group which previously included 11 species. In this paper we have described two new species: M. lilianae n. sp. and M. benni n. sp. One species, M. gracilis, probably does not belong to this group. I have included it here because its affinities with other Melanoplus species remain unknown. Like the Viridipes Group it is characterized by its green legs.

The members of this group are distributed mostly east of the Mississippi River. Two species, M. sylvatica and M. beameri, are known from west of the river. Most of the species emerge as adults in the spring or early summer and some are believed to overwinter in later nymphal stages. These species also prefer woodland habitats, especially along woods margins and small openings in woods. But sometimes they may be found some distance from the woodland edge, especially on larger balds in the southern Appalachian mountains.

Proscopiidae is an orthopteran family endemic to South America. Some species, such as Stiphra robusta, are considered sporadic pests in drought areas in the northeastern region of Brazil. This study establishes, for an undescribed Stiphra species, parameters for stadia and mortality that accompany its postembryonic development, as well as the sex ratio of females (no. female: total emerged adults) under laboratory conditions (67.4% mean relative humidity and 26.7° C). The adult stages were attained by three different developmental regimes involving different numbers of instars: four (4.8% of the population, males only), five (64.5%, sex ratio 0.24) and six instars (30.7%, sex ratio 0.94). The species is univoltine with the following mean duration for postembryonic development: males 71.8 d to complete four instars, 83.8 d for five instars, 110.7 d for six instars; females 85.6 d for five instars and 103.1 d for six instars. Overall mortality from neonates to adults was 13.1%, highest in the first instar.

The predaceous katydid species Arachnoscelis meriti, n. sp. (Listroscelidinae) and Phlugiola arborea, n. sp. (Meconematinae) are described herein. Keys to species of both genera based on morphological differences are also provided. Both species were collected from rainforest canopies in northern Peru. Based on the numbers of additional new forms collected, sorted and identified during the course of this study, many species in addition to these are new to science, providing evidence of a very rich and diverse arboreal fauna in northern Peru. After reviewing literature on the tribe Phlugidini, Tenuiphlugis Kevan (with 4 species) is herein synonymized with the genus Lucienola Gurney.

The grasshopper genus Sinaloa Scudder is composed of 8 species, 5 of which are new: S. behrens, S. nitida, S. pulchella, S. sipuri n. sp., S. uri n. sp., S. garabe n. sp., S. jubaami n. sp., and S. isena n. sp. Barytettix peninsulae from the southern tip of Baja California was incorrectly placed under Sinaloa by Bruner (1908) and Hebard (1925). The genus is known only from western Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Jalisco) where it occurs mostly in the lowlands. The species are differentiated mainly by the configuration of the male genitalia.

Description of a new species of the genus Eupholidoptera Maran. This new species, E. jacquelinae, was found on the Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete. Its relation with other members of the genus is discussed on the basis of morphological traits.

Members of 3 families of Orthoptera (Acrididae, Gryllacrididae, Tettigoniidae) were sampled in clearcuts, burned forest, and undisturbed forest in a coniferous forest ecosystem in northern Utah, USA. Sampling was conducted during July and August, 1995 to 1997, by use of pitfall traps. The camel cricket Ceuthophilus fusiformis (Gryllacrididae: Rhaphidophorinae) was the most commonly trapped species in forested plots, where otherwise very few orthopterans were collected. Many more orthopterans were taken in clearcuts and burns and these had equal species richness and total orthopteran abundance. However, the orthopteran assemblages differed between these two treatments. Band-winged grasshoppers (Acrididae: Oedopodinae) tended to be trapped more frequently in clearcuts, especially Camnula pellucida. Burned plots provided greater numbers of Ceuthophilus fusiformis and Steiroxys pallidipalpus (Tettigoniidae: Decticinae).

We propose a hypothesis of relationships in a subset of the mole cricket family (Gryllotalpidae), based on morphology and call type. Living and preserved specimens of six species were examined and a literature analysis conducted, as preliminary steps in a comparative study of this family, known world-wide in tropical and temperate regions. In the literature, 76 species in 5 extant genera are described; we included in our analysis 34 species from four genera for which the most complete morphological data were available. All analyses were rooted by the outgroup method, with Gryllus texensis Cade & Otte as the outgroup and the presence of mole-like digging forelimbs as the synapomorphic character diagnosing the ingroup. Seven other characters in the analysis were restricted to discrete traits for a total of 8 characters in the analysis. Phylogenetic analyses of the complete data set yielded > 15,000 trees to which we applied various consensus analyses by PAUP without high levels of resolution. The Adams method, however, revealed a resolved group of 14 ingroup taxa from four genera, but mostly from the genus Gryllotalpa, that we subjected to re-analysis with PAUP. Two equally parsimonious trees were roughly organized into clades by call type. Our hypothesis supports previous work that has placed the genus Scapteriscus in a separate subfamily and other work that suggested the New Zealand endemic, Triamescaptor aotea Tindale, is more closely related to two Australian species of Gryllotalpa than to Gryllotalpa species as a whole. Additional field studies of songs of this family and addition of characters based on molecular data are important to resolving relationships suggested by our hypothesis.

A new genus, Novadrymadusa, and a new species, N. karabagi, are described. A new combination, N. kurda (Uvarov), is established. Together with a key to species in the new genus there is a short account of its geographical distribution and that of related genera.

O. nigeriensis Uvarov is widely distributed in the moist grassland habitats of Nigeria. Although this area is used for intensive agricultural activities, providing more than 90% of the grains needed in the country, the insect has been reported to cause only minor damage to agricultural crops while the closely related O. senegalensis is a serious pest of crops. The reason for the minor pest status of O. nigeriensis is unknown and only adequate study of the insect/host-plant relationship will provide some clues.

Nymphs and adults of O. nigeriensis were reared on selected food plants (grasses) in the laboratory, this included Axonopus compressus, Cynodon dactylon, Eleusine indica, Seteria gracilipes, used singly and as a mixture of all four. Development of the nymphs was shortest when rearing was on a mixed diet: 60 d compared to 105 to 127 d for single host plants. Rearing the adults on S. gracilipes promoted faster oocyte development than the other treatments. The present pest status of the insect is discussed based on the data obtained.

This catalogue lists all genera and species of stick insects recorded or described from New Zealand. Genera are listed in alphabetical order within established subfamilies and tribes. Some taxonomic changes are made, with major changes as follows: 2 new genera in the subfamily Pachymorphinae are erected -Niveaphasma (type species -Pachymorpha annulata Hutton 1898) and Asteliaphasma (type species - Spinotectarchus jucundus Salmon 1991). Mimarchus tarsatus Carl 1913 is reduced to synonymy under Argosarchus horridus (White 1846), resulting in Mimarchus Carl 1913 becoming a synonym of Argosarchus Hutton 1898. Lectotypes are designated for Argosarchus schauinslandi Brunner 1907, Clitarchus interruptelineatus Brunner 1907, Clitarchus laeviusculus Stål 1875, Micrarchus parvulus Carl 1913, Micrarchus tarsatus Carl 1913 and Pachymorpha bouvieri Brunner 1907. Keys to adults and eggs of genera are given. The bibliography includes all references containing descriptions of species recorded or described from New Zealand.

Studies on the rarely reported Australian leaf insects reveal that Phyllium species from northern Queensland, P. frondosum Redtenbacher 1906 and P. siccifolium (L.), are misidentifications. Consequently, a new species Phyllium (Phyllium) monteithi is described and figured, including the egg. Nanophyllium pygmaeum Redtenbacher 1906 is confirmed as Australian, although it may be a different species, similar in appearance or related to Phyllium (Phyllium) frondosum Redtenbacher. Females are needed to clarify its position. A third Australian species is also reported, Chitoniscus lobiventris (Blanchard 1853), based on a single museum record from 1903. Keys are provided to distinguish Australian leaf insects.

This paper investigates the habitat preferences of Chorthippus albomarginatus, Chorthippus brunneus and Chorthippus parallelus in relation to sward height and vegetation composition. using 2 X 2-m quadrats, the grasshopper fauna of 15 sites was surveyed in July and August of 2000 and 2001. The results obtained highlight the importance of sward height and vegetation composition in determining grasshopper abundance. The three Chorthippus species were found to favor sward heights between 100 to 200 mm. C. brunneus and C. parallelus in particular, were positively associated with fine-leaved grass species such as Agrostis spp. or Festuca spp. (p < 0.05) and negatively associated with Lolium perenne L. and Poa trivialis L. (p < 0.01).

Both C. parallelus and C. brunneus were found to be in significantly higher abundance at heathland sites than in agricultural habitats. This may have been because the farmland sites were dominated by L. perenne, which may not be a suitable food resource for grasshoppers, whereas heathland swards tended to be composed of fine-leaved grass species such as Agrostis capillaris, which might be more favorable for adult feeding. The lack of suitable swards on agricultural land may severely restrict the occurrence of these grasshopper species. This could have important conservation implications for rare farmland bird species, such as Emberiza cirlus which utilise grasshoppers as a food source.

To evaluate temporal changes in grasshopper communities over a 5-y period (1997–2001), density and species relative abundance were estimated at 27 sites in Benito Juárez county, Southern Pampas, Argentina, established across vegetation associations with different disturbance histories. A total of 22 grasshopper species were collected, Melanoplinae being the most abundant and diverse subfamily, followed by Gomphocerinae, Acridinae, Copiocerinae and Leptysminae. Results allowed us to categorize years into nonoutbreak (1997, 1998, 1999), transitional (2000) and outbreak (2001) based on the spatiotemporal characteristics of grasshopper density trends. On average, grasshopper density was over 7 times greater in 2001 than in nonoutbreak years. During nonoutbreak years, grasshopper densities showed no significant variation across disturbance categories. During the outbreak year, densities were significantly higher in pastures and halophilous steppes, with highly disturbed pastures being the most affected sites of all. Species richness changed significantly in outbreak versus nonoutbreak years: nearly twice as many species were collected during the outbreak year. Although 22 species were collected, results showed that a small number influence overall abundance from nonoutbreak to outbreak conditions. Although Dichroplus elongatus, Covasacris albitarsis, and Scotussa lemniscata were the three topranked species throughoutthe studied period, D. elongatus contributed most to overall shifts in grasshopper density.

The composition and members of the Tcholmanvissiinae (representatives of the ‘oedischioids’ stem-group) are revised. One of us (O.B.) examined all available specimens, allowing a better appreciation of intraspecific variability in the wing venation and a proposal of new diagnostic specific and generic characters. Several genera and species are synonymized. Finally, close relationships betweenTcholmanvissiinae and Tettoedischiinae are supported by data on relief of veins and organization of the cubital area. Previous hypotheses of relationships between Tcholmanvissiinae and Titanoptera or Caelifera are dismissed.

The effects of wildfires on the Orthoptera fauna of extensive dry grasslands were investigated at 25 random sites in a military training area in Eastern Austria. using a space-for-time substitution, a time span of 1 to about 20 y after fire was considered. Fire-induced trajectories of habitat characteristics such as microclimate proved to have a determining effect on the occurrence of most acridids and some tettigoniids. Dispersal capacity and fire-shelter characteristics of egg deposition sites did not significantly influence postbum occurrence patterns ofthe investigated species. Of a total of 20 species, seven were favored by wildfires, two were adversely affected by fire and eleven did not show significant responses to postburn age. Four species, amongst them Celes variabilis, which is highly endangered in Central Europe, can be considered fire-dependent in the study area. Therefore, fire can have beneficial effects for the conservation of acridid grasshoppers in particular. A reconsideration of the present legal ban on the use of prescribed burning in Central Europe is recommended.

Shistocerca gregaria, Dociostaurus maroccanus and Locusta migratoria remain the most fearsome orthopteran pests in Algeria. While multiple efforts are engaged in the forecasting and control of S. gregaria, Moroccan and migratory locusts drawless attention. Surveyand antilocust control teams have indicated infestations of D. maroccanus in the western and eastern highlands and of L. migratoria in the Central Sahara. Field investigations reported here show that the initial swarming of both locusts may occur as a consequence of human agricultural practices that make them more successful in their new habitats: increasing locust densities are correlated with human-induced changes in vegetation structure. In this paper anthropogenic impact on locust population density is analyzed using various data methods.