Document Type
Peer-Review Article
Abstract
Overwintered Melanoplus borealis (subspecies, borealis Fieber) eggs hatched within 10-15 days in mid-June. The nymphs molted 5 times and became adults in about 45 days in nature. In both sexes, sexual maturity was attained about 3 weeks after emergence and oviposition started 8-10 days after sexual maturity.
M. borealis is primarily a forb feeder as its mandibular morphology indicates but it also developed and reproduced exclusively on Gramineae in the laboratory.
In the Fairbanks area, Alaska, these grasshoppers were found in sunny open fields where vegetation was short and sparse enough to allow sunrays to penetrate to the ground surface. However, the size of the population in one habitat was never large. M. borealis hibernates as eggs from September to June of the following year.
Recommended Citation
Kaufmann, Tohko
2017.
"Biology and Ecology of Melanoplus Borealis (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in Fairbanks, Alaska with Special Reference to Feeding Habits,"
The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 4
(1)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.1132
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol4/iss1/2