Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) and black-tailed prairie dogs (Sciuridae: Cynomys ludovicianus (ord)): Associations between two rangeland herbivores

We collected data on the density and species composition of grasshoppers on and off three black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns in the northern mixed-grass prairie of Badlands National Park (BNP), South Dakota during July of 1997 and July-August 1998. Densities of grasshoppers were significantly higher on prairie dog towns than off in July 1997. In 1998, densities were again significantly higher on towns in July, but lower on towns in August. Species from three Acrididae subfamilies, Melanoplinae, Gomphocerinae, and Oedipodinae, were collected at the BNP. Melanopline species comprised the largest proportion of grasshoppers collected both on and off prairie dog towns in both years, gomphocerine species were found almost exclusively off towns, while oedipodine species were significantly more common on towns. In 1998, the stage of the grasshoppers was also recorded. The proportion of melanopline and oedipodine nymphs that were collected on towns was significantly greater than the proportion collected off towns in July 1998. By intensively grazing in the vicinity of their burrows, black-tailed prairie dogs create areas of bare ground which may provide ideal oviposition sites and preferred habitat for some species of grasshopper.

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