Diversity of Orthopteran insects in contrasting coastal environment of Midnapore (East), West Bengal, India

Abstract

The order Orthoptera includes insects of commonly known species to human being such as grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets, mole crickets and grouse locusts. The members of this order occur almost throughout the physiographic zones of India. Orthopteran insects of coastal areas of Midnapore district were sampled from November 2007 to October 2010.Altogether 8 Orthopteran insect species belonging to 7genera and 5 families have been recorded from eight different study sites having contrasting ecological characters in the coastal areas of Midnapore(East) District of West Bengal, India. This study is the first attempt to document the insects under the order Orthoptera. The diversity and distribution of these insects have been studied. Some site specific species have been detected.