Gafanhotos (Orthoptera: Acrididea) em áreas de conservação no Corredor Central da Mata Atlântica, Brasil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge of the grasshoppers’ assemblage (Orthoptera: Acridoidea) in areas of environmental preservation at the Atlantic Forest. This biome nowadays has about 150 million hectares, which represents about 7 to 8% of the original vegetation cover, and whose occurrence is higher in Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná and Santa Catarina states, and presenting isolated portions in another 11. This biome is vital to approximately 120 million people who live in the area where they use to generate around 70 % of national PIB. In the extreme south of Bahia and Espirito Santo is located the Central Atlantic Forest Corridor, with more than 8,5 million hectares being one of the most important mosaics of protected areas of this biome. Three representative areas was sampled: Parque Nacional Monte Pascoal (Itamaraju, Bahia), Reserva Nacional da Vale (Linhares, Espirito Santo) and Reserva Biológica Duas Bocas (Cariacica, Espirito Santo), in July of 2012, under the project “Brazilian Biota of Orthoptera”, and 770 adults belonging to 58 species were collected. Was recorded the presence of Eujivarus fusiformis Bruner, 1911, Amblytropidia sola Rehn, 1939, Ronderosia dubia (Bruner, 1906), Cylindrotettix obscurus (Thunberg, 1827), and Guaranacris specularis (Bruner, 1906) for this region, in addition to two new species: Aleuas sp1, Aleuas sp2 (Copiocerinae) and two Chloropseustini (Leptysminae). As taxonomic tool, geometric morphometrics was used to distinguish male specimens of Abracris dilecta Walker, 1870 and Omalotettix obliquus (Thunberg, 1824) from the fastigium and cerci characters, usually used for identification. Statistical analysis showed that these structures do not allow precise distinction between them. Thus, the results suggest that the external shape of these structures cannot be conclusive and other characters must therefore be used.