HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS OF GRASSHOPPERS AT THE MACARTHUR-AGRO-ECOLOGY-RESEARCH-CENTER, LAKE-PLACID, FLORIDA

Grasshopper populations of the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center at Lake Placid, in south-central Florida were monitored during the per iod 1993-1995. Samples were taken monthly during the spring, summer, a nd autumn months from 3 discrete habitats: citrus groves, improved pas tures, and weedy margins of irrigation ditches. The grasshopper specie s assemblage at the Research Center consisted of 16 species in the fam ily Acrididae, 7 species in the family Tettigoniidae, and 3 species in the family Tetrigidae. Family and species dominance varied among habi tats. Grasshopper abundance was highest in citrus groves and ditch mar gins, and these habitats had proportionally more acridids. Pastures we re inhabited by fewer grasshoppers, and were dominated by tettigoniids . The nymphal tettigoniid population was relatively high, and adult po pulation relatively low in pastures. Tetrigids were infrequent in all habitats. The most abundant grasshoppers were Dichromorpha viridis (Sc udder) and Conocephalus fasciatus (DeGeer), grass-feeding species that were abundant in all habitats sampled. Collection of Melanoplus bispi nosus Scudder is a new state record. Potential effects of grasshoppers and land management on avifauna are discussed.