Grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acridoidea) in native savanna and crop areas in Chapada dos Parecis, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. We determined the composition and abundance of grasshoppers using sweep net sampling during three years at the Parecis Plateau, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The survey was done in areas with crops and native vegetation (savanna) with, respectively, 56 and 59 sites available in each environment. 3.031 individuals of grasshoppers were collected from 64 species distributed among the following families and subfamilies: Acrididae (49): Gomphocerinae (21), Ommatolampinae (10), Melanoplinae (6), Acridinae (4) Leptysminae (3), Copiocerinae (3), Proctolabinae (1) and Cyrtacanthacridinae (1); Romaleidae (1): Romaleinae (13) and Ommexechidae (1): Ommexechinae (2) and 1550 nymphs. The differences were significant between the number of species found in the savannas (61) and in cultived areas (16). However, the abundance of Acridoidea was significantly higher in crops than in savannas areas which was influenced mainly by two Acrididae's species: Baeacris punctulatus (Thunberg, 1824) and Orphulella punctata (De Geer, 1773) which accounted for 49.5% of the total individuals collected across the Parecis Plateau and, together, they account for 78.8% of recorded abundance in the cultived areas, both species being potential pests.
Brazilian savanna; community structure; composition; Melanoplinae; pest; richness
