Seasonal Abundance and Sex Ratio of Dominant Acridid Species in Ballavpur Wild Life Sanctuary of West Bengal, India (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Acridids have a high reproductive potential and high nutritional value and may be important in energy and nutrient cycling. Seasonal abundance and sex ratio of dominant acridid species were studied on six species viz. Chrotogonus trachypterus trachypterus (Blanchard), Dittopternis venusta (Walker), Oedaleus abruptus (Thunberg), Oxya fuscovittata (Marschall), Oxya hyla hyla Serville and Truxalis indica (Bolivar) in Ballavpur Wild life Sanctuary, a dry deciduous type in nature. The population of acridids changes in different seasons and highest number was observed during monsoon. This study also revealed that D. venusta occupied the top place representing 32.84% and 34.82% during 1st and 2nd year respectively. Statistical analysis reflects that the sex ratio was more or less equal.