DIVERSITY OF GROUSE LOCUSTS (ORTHOPTERA- TETRIGIDAE) FROM WETLAND ECOSYSTEM OF KOLHAPUR AND SANGLI DISTRICTS OF WESTERN MAHARASHTRA

Grouse locusts (Pigmy locust) phytophagous insects, found abundantly during the post-monsoon period, in wetland areas. They prefer to live under dried plant leaves. Grouse locusts are important food of several migratory birds, wetland reptiles, amphibians, etc., and play a crucial role in the wetland ecosystem. 11 species of the grouse locust were reported and studied with respect to taxonomy. Out of which 8 were common and 3 rarer. In seasonal abundance, it was observed that the species Scelimena harpago is found throughout the year, and the remaining 10 species were found during the rainy and winter seasons. Ergatettix tarsalis is the most common species, and reported with high numbers followed by Euparatettix personatus is reported. Thoradonta purthi, Hedotettix gracilis, Hedotettix lineifera, Ergatetix dorsifer, and Ergatettix guntheri have been reported with moderate numbers, while Acantholobus cuneatus, Systolederus cinereus and Tetrix bipunctata species were found rarely with an extremely low number.