Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker, 1870)

Usmani, Mohd. Kamil & Nayeem, Md. Rashid, 2012, Studies on taxonomy and distribution of Acridoidea (Orthoptera) of Bihar, India, Journal of Threatened Taxa 4 (13), pp. 3190-3204 : 3199

26. Aiolopus simulatrix (Walker, 1870)

Diagnostic characters: It is popularly known as Sudan Plague locust and is a serious pest of grain and many other crops. The species is variable in general coloration, size, relative length of tegmina and width of hind femur. It can easily be distinguished by its broad hind femur which is longer than hind tibia and by the form of frontal ridge and pronotum.

Material examined: 3 females, 2 males, 11.vi.2009, on paddy, Bhabua, Kaimur; 6 females, 15.vi.2009, on paddy, Gaya; 3 females, 2 males, 27.vi.2009, on paddy, Purnia; 3 females, 4 males, 21.vi.2009, on paddy, Jamui; 1 female, 2 males, 22.vi.2009, on paddy, Munger; 2 males, 23.vi.2009, on paddy, Khagaria; 1 female, 6.vi.2010, on paddy, Ara, Bhojpur; 4 males, 23.x.2010, on wheat, Chhapra, Saran; 2 females, 2 males, 28.vi.2009, on paddy, Kishanganj.

Mophometry: (length in mm). Male: Body 11.2– 11.7, Pronotum 6.4–7.1, Tegmina 17.3–17.7 Hind femur 7.3–7.8. Female: Body 13.3–13.9, Pronotum 7.1–8.3, Tegmina –22.3–23.1, Hind Femur 11.3 – 11.7.

Remarks: A common pest of agricultural crops. Observed in groundnut, paddy, cholam, ragi and brinjal fields as well as grasslands.

Natural enemies: No natural enemies recorded.

Distribution: Andaman & Nikobar Islands, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.