Life Span and Sex Ratio in Multivoltine and Univoltine Species of Acridids

The knowledge of the life span and sex ratio is of immense importance for biomass production of acridids which can be utilized as non-conventional nutrient source in animal feed. Life span and sex ratio were studied on four Indian acridid species, i.e., Oxya fuscovittata, Acrida exaltata, Hieroglyphus banian and Spathosternum prasiniferum prasiniferum under laboratory based rearing. The study reveals that H. banian required more rearing time than A. exaltaia, 0. fuscovittata and S. pr. prasiniferum. In each species females were found to live longer than the males. The sex ratio study shows female dominance in O. fuscovittata and A. exaltata and male dominance in H. banian and S. pr. prasiniferum under laboratory condition.