Diversity and Status of Acridoids in Radua Watershed of Himachal Pradesh, India

Radua watershed is situated at 3111 & #039, 45 & quot, N to 3114 & #039, 52 & quot, N latitude and 7638 & #039, 43 & quot, E to 7642 & #039, 37 & quot, E longitude between Bilaspur and Solan hills of Himachal Pradesh. This watershed primarily symbolizes one of most fragile ecosystem (sub-tropical zone) of the Shiwalik hills and supports rich and diversified faunal and floral diversity. At present, the left bank of present watershed is in a state of disturbance primarily due to widening of National highway (NH- 21), various types of landslides, soil erosion, pollution etc. Therefore, present studies were conducted in order to know the status and diversity of orthopteran fauna in this watershed. Keeping in view the above, Radua watershed was explored for the presence of orthopteran fauna especially short horned grasshopper in various ecosystems/habitats types like agriculture fields, forests, grasslands, streams, human habitations, industrial area etc. These studies revealed the presence of 30 species of orthopterans belonging to 25 genera and 2 families of super-family acridoidea. It was observed that Acrididae, represented by 26 (87 %) species, spread over 22 (88 %) genera under 8 subfamilies was the largest family of acridoids, while Pyrgomorphidae represented by 4 (13 %) species belonging to 3 (12 %) genera was the smallest. Among subfamilies, Oedipodinae (27 %) was the largest with 7 species followed by Acridinae (15 %) and Hemiacridinae (15 %, 4 species each), Gomphocerinae (12 %), Eyprepocnemidinae (12 %) and Catantopinae (11 %, 3 species each) and Oxynae and Truxalinae (4 %, 1 species each). Acrida exaltata, Gastrimargus africanus africanus, Spathosternum pr. prasiniferum, Oxya hyla hyla, Atractomorpha cr. crenulata and Chrotogonus (Chr. ) tr. Trachypterus were the most abundant, whereas, Gelastrrhinus laticornis, Scintharista blanchardiana, Choroedocus illustris, Hieroglyphus oryzivorus and Xenocatantops karnyi were the least represented species in this watershed. Present biodiversity studies on acridoids shall be of great use in taxonomical practices, formulation of a reliable data base of insects, monitoring changes in an ecosystem, especially in relation to crops and climate change.