Grasshopper and Cricket Monitoring

The wet prairies and ancient dunes of the Oak Openings region are rich in Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, and katydids), harboring several of Ohio’s rare species. A common misconception is that these insects are mostly economic pests of weedy or disturbed sites, but monitoring has shown that the vast majority of Orthoptera are characteristic of natural systems and are habitat-restricted. Most Orthopteran species are restricted to one plant community, however many species occupy a particular microhabitat within a distinct community. In most states (including Ohio) a significant percentage are only known from very few sites, occupy unusual or regionally rare natural communities, and consist of small populations. These species can be excellent bio-indicators of successful habitat management. Habitats such as dunes, prairies, and meadow openings in the Oak Openings Region have been surveyed for adult stage crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids, with a focus on species that are potentially rare in Ohio. Through this survey, a total of nine species considered “locally rare” were found within microhabitats and certain plant communities throughout the Oak Openings Region. These species include the following: Sprinkled Grasshopper (Chloealtis conspersa), Graceful Grasshopper (Melanoplus gracilis), Green-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus similis), Short-winged Green Grasshopper (Dicromorpha viridis), Marsh Meadow Grasshopper (Pseudochorthippus curtipennis), Gray Ground Cricket (Allonemobius griseus), Longhorn band-winged Grasshopper (Psinidia fenestralis), Mottled Sand Grasshopper (Spharagemon collare), and Boll’s Grasshopper (Spharagemon bolli). To date, 38 total Orthopteran species have been found in the Oak Openings Region, with another 76 species yet to be found. Future survey goals include continuation of monitoring at sites with already established baseline data in regard to species presence.