Composition and structure of Orthopteran faunas in cereal crops in Ethiopia

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Abstract
Adult grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acridoidea, Tetrigioidea Tettigonioidea) assemblages were sampled at four localities in south-eastern Shoa, around Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, between August 1986 and September 1988. Three localities were followed for the whole period but the fourth locality was followed only between August 1986 and July 1987. Samples were taken fortnightly from both black and light soil fields of tef and wheat crops, each in three replicates. The fauna consisted of twenty-nine taxa of both short- and longhorned grasshoppers, twenty-six of which are identified to species. Over 70% of the species belong to Acrididae and most of them are either pests or potential pests of cereal crops. Species richness, diversity and dominance within and between sites and seasons did not differ much during the two year period. The composition and structure of the assemblage was relatively constant. Despite fluctuation in abundance, dominant and common species remained common and rare species rare. Aiolopus longicornis Sjöstedt was most dominant. Some species are more abundant on black soil than on light soil and vice versa. The results are compared to grasshopper assemblages studied elsewhere.