Study on Grasshoppers fauna of Khada District Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The present research was conducted to explore grasshopper fauna Khada from District Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from January to December 2016. In the current investigation 5sub-families of the Grasshoppers were identified up to the species level like Oedipodinae, Acridinae, Gomphocerinae, Cyrtacanthacridinae and Eyprepocnemidinae, 8 Genera and 8 species Scintharistanotabilis, Sphingonotus rubescens, Aiolopus thalassinus, Acrotylushumbertianus, Acrida exaltata, Ochrilidia gracilis, Schistocerca gregaria and Heteracrisillustris of Acrididae were recorded. Among the recorded 5 sub Families, Family Oedipodinae was found the richest one consisting 4 species of Grasshopper while other sub Families Acridinae, Gomphocerinae, Cyrtacanthacridinae and Eyprepocnemidinae comprising only one species each. Maximum collection of the grasshopper was carried out during hot season i.e. June and July. The present study revealed that this area is suitable for sub Family Oedipodinaeas compared to other families. This survey will be very useful for the future Entomologists in the field of Entomology.