Comparative study on the immature stages of three hieroglyphus species (Acrididae: Orthoperta) from Pakistan

Hieroglyphus krauss is among the most economically important pest of rice,sugarcane,wheat,maize and minor pest of millets and fodder crops in pakistan. presently immature stages of hieroglyphus perpolita (uvarov),h.oryzivorus carl and h. nigrorepletus i. (bolivar) were studied under the laboratory conditions during the years 2005-2007 from pakistan. the first instar hatched in the form of vermiform larva. in both sexes,normally there are five moults and six nymphal stages and the adult being the seventh stage. hoppers usually emerge during junejuly as soon as monsoon begins. sex ratio was extremely in the favour of females in all the species were studied. inner side of hind femur with tinge of red or orange red color was reported in h.perpolita on contrary to this; it was light green in h. nigrorepletus. posterior margin of pronotum was recorded almost straight in h.oryzivorus while it was obtuse angular in h.perpolita. morphometric studies on the immature stages of these three species showed that there was significant differences in the measurement of different body parts as well as all instars are also slightly differ with each other. the total average developmental period from first instar up to the last instar was recorded 4.21 ±0.36 days for h. perpolita,5.18±0.43days for h.oryzivorus and 5.07±0.47 days for h. nigrorepletus. study of life history,including life span,development time,and sex ratio contributes importantly to understand of insect species. copyright 2010 zoological society of pakistan.