Systematics and Species Composition of the Short-horned Grasshoppers and Locusts (Orthoptera: Acrididae) of Sarawak

• Main Author: Farah Nabillah, Abu Hasan Aidil Fitri
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2017
• Subjects: QL Zoology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32222/1/Farah%20Nabillah%20Abu%20Hasan%20Aildil%20Fitri%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32222/
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

This study provides a systematic account of the family Acrididae (Orthoptera) of Sarawak based on the voucher specimens allocated in the Forest Research Centre Sarawak and UNIMAS Insect Reference Collection. A total of24 species from 18 genera representing six subfamilies of acrid ids were known to occur in Sarawak based on 712 specimens examined from both institutions. Traulia azureipennis was found to be the most abundant species with 130 individuals (18.26% of total individuals) assessed, followed by Va/anga nigricornis (15.87%), Xenocatantops humilis (11.94%) and Oxya japonica japonica (9.97%). lucretilis sp. could be considered as a rare species of acridids in Sarawak being represented by only one individual (0.14%). The most diverse ecological habitat was mixed dipterocarp forest as it consists of20 species out of 24 species documented inhabiting the area. The least diverse ecological habitat was montane forest with only five species populating the area. T. azureipennis and Pseudoxya diminuta were the most diverse species as they were found in nine different ecological habitats, namely beach forest, mixed dipterocarp forest, heath forest, montane forest, peat swamp forest, limestone forest, mangrove forest, riverine forest and urban forest. A list of species assessed and the identification keys to the genera and species were presented. The species composition of family Acrididae in Sarawak was mapped.