The Palatability of Ferns and the Ecology of Two Tropical Forest Grasshoppers

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Abstract
Fern-eating forest grasshoppers of 2 spp. were studied in Costa Rica. Hylopedetes nigrithorax lives in groups on particular ferns in light-gaps. Homeomastax dentata is solitary and found throughout the forest. The relative palatabliity of 13 spp. of fern was established, including species supporting Hylopedetes colonies, species on which Homeomastax was found, and controls. The palatability scores obtained with Homeomastax were relatively closely grouped and only the least palatable plant was significantly less preferred. The scores obtained from Hylopedetes were more widely spread, and the most palatable plants were significantly preferred. This suggests that Hylopedetes is more specialized in its feeding habits, Homeomastax more generalized. The rank order of palatability to the 2 grasshoppers was significantly positively correlated. The proximal basis of palatability differences seems to be chemical, but the content of phenols, nitrogen, tannins and fiber showed no correlation with palatability. The siting of Hylopedetes colonies appears to be determined by sunlight and fern palatability. Most colonies are found on the most palatable fern, but the longest lived colonies occur on a less preferred species which better survives successional change.

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