Acrida exaltata (Walker, 1859)

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 : 3198

21. Acrida exaltata (Walker, 1859)

Diagnostic characters: Head conically ascending. Fastigium broad, laminate and truncate at apex. Transverse sulcus of pronotum present about the middle of pronotal disc. Male subgenital plate comparatively long. Tegmina a little produced beyond the hind knee and wings slightly shorter than tegmina.

Materials examined: 2 females, 3 males, 26.vi.2009, on paddy, Katihar; 1 female, 27.vi.2009, on paddy, Purnia; 2 females, 1 male, 4.vii.2009, on underlying grasses in vegetable field, Saharsa; 2 females, 7.vii.2009, on grasses, Muzaffarpur; 1 male, 10.vii.2009, on paddy, Siwan; 4 males, 24.vi.2009, on paddy, Banka; 1 male, 4.vi.2010, on grasses, Bettiah, Pascim Champaran; 1 female, 1 male, 28.x.2010, on grasses, Supaul; 1 female, 29.x.2010, on grasses, Buxar; 2 females, 2 males, 9.vi.2009, on paddy, Patna; 1 male, 26.x.2010, on grasses, Samastipur; 1 female, 8.vi.2009, on grasses, Begusarai; 1 female, 6.vi.2010, on paddy, Ara, Bhojpur; 6 females, 5.vi.2010, on paddy, Madhepura.

Morphometry: (length in mm). Male: Body 52.8, Tegmina 44.8, Hind femur 31.4, Pronotum 6.8. Female: Body 48.25, Tegmina 30.0, Hind femur 24.55, Pronotum 8.2

Remarks: This species is widely distributed throughout plains and hilly regions of Indian sub- continent. It is abundantly found on grasses and paddy fields.

Natural enemies: This species was found to be parasitized by Eutrombidium trigonum.

Distribution: Very common and known from many localities in India. Sikkim, Kashmir, Himalayas, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.