Bionomics of the Variegated Grasshopper (Zonocerus Variegatus) in West and Central Africa

Effect of planted fallow systems on Zonocerus variegatus (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) abundance in the humid forest zone of Southern Cameroon

“…These vegetations may also be a better food source and better egg laying sites for Z. variegatus. The significant difference in Z. variegatus abundance noted between the C. odorata, C. callothyrsus and P. phaseoloides fallows of the two locations (land cleared from forest and land cleared from chromolaena fallow) may be due to change that appeared in the habitat after the introduction of P. phaseoloides and C. callothyrsus in the (Chapman et al 1986;De Grégorio 1989b;Chiffaud and Mestre 1990). The decrease of Z. variegatus abundance in the P. phaseoloides fallows when they are planted in cleared chromolaena habitat and in the C. callothyrsus of the forest site could be due to the reduction in the C. odorata abundance in those fallows which is more abundant in the planted fallows of forest site (Weise, unpublished data).…”

“…Z. variegatus is a non-migratory grasshopper (De Grégorio 1989a, b) which is primarily associated with the forest regions, but extends into the savannah, where the grasshopper is restricted to riverine habitats (Chapman et al 1986). In the natural area, Z. variegatus has seven post-embryonic developmental stages: larvae of stages one to three are gregarious; those of stages four to six and adults are solitary (Chapman et al 1986). Z. variegatus live and feed on about 318 host plant species, including a wide range of plantation and subsistence crops (Kekeunou 2007).…”

“…The limited information available suggests that, Z. variegatus abundance varies seasonally: in the forest areas it is most abundant in the dry season, but in the savannah it is largely restricted to the rainy season (Chapman et al 1986). In the areas with bimodal rainfall such as Southern Cameroon, the effect of the long and short dry and rainy seasons on the abundance of Z. variegatus is unknown.…”

“…In the areas with bimodal rainfall such as Southern Cameroon, the effect of the long and short dry and rainy seasons on the abundance of Z. variegatus is unknown. Large fluctuations in numbers occur also from year to year in Ibadan (Nigeria) (Chapman et al 1986) and in Yaounde and Mbalmayo (Messi et al 2006). In the natural area, Z. variegatus is found in herbaceous fallows, and is extremely rare in the forest underwood.…”

“…It is a most dominant herbaceous species in newly cleared areas in forest and along roadsides (Chapman et al 1986). It is known to be one of the most important Z. variegatus host plants because it is consumed by all post-embryonic stages of Z. variegatus, used as shelter and as site for eggs deposit (De Grégorio 1989b).…”