Environmental Entomology (1990) 19, 1103-1109

W.D. Willms and D.L. Johnson (1990)
Utilization of rough fescue and parry oat grass by two grasshopper species and effect of leaf water content and stubble height
Environmental Entomology 19 (4), 1103-1109
Abstract: This study was undertaken to measure destruction and feeding by two species of grasshoppers, Camnula pellucida (Scudder) and Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.), common on fescue prairie, in relation to forage preferences, stubble height, and leaf water content. C. pellucida showed no significant preferences, whereas M. sanguinipes preferred rough fescue (Festuca scabrella Torrey). M. sanguinipes displayed greater preference for higher leaf water content than did C. pellucida. The presence of stubble restricted feeding of both grasshopper species, but M. sanguinipes was less inhibited. The inhibition by stubble was related directly to its density (grams per cubic centimeter) and, therefore, inversely to its height. The significance of these aspects of feeding behavior in relation to grassland condition is discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Dan L. Johnson

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melanoplus sanguinipes	Festuca (crop)	Canada (west)
	Camnula pellucida	Grasses/turf/rangeland	Canada (west)