Abstract

ROMERO-MATA, Ariana; PEREZ-ESCOBEDO, Marcela  and  CANO-SANTANA, Zenón. Spatio temporal variations of two Oecanthus fultoni (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) populations in Central Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2022, vol.93, e933770.  Epub Jan 20, 2023. ISSN 2007-8706.  https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2022.93.3770.

We compared five population attributes of tree cricket Oecanthus fultoni Walker, 1962 (structure, density, abundance, sex ratio, and male density) in two localities of Central Mexico, with contrasting xerophytic scrub. The specimens were counted directly on plants and the adult males by aural detection. In Zapotitlán Salinas, Puebla the crickets were sampled in hours of the day, and in the Pedregal de San Ángel, Mexico City they were sampled in hours of the night. The species was present in both sites throughout the year and it recorded five nymphal instars; but the population of Zapotitlán was multivoltine and that of Pedregal was univoltine. The mean crickets density was higher in the Pedregal (652.0 ± 0.2 ind./ha) than in Zapotitlán 50.4 ± 0.2 ind./ha); sex ratio was 1:1.2 (males: females) in Zapotitlán; while in Pedregal it was 6.1:1. We recorded a significantly lower density of males in Zapotitlán (83.41 ± 5.3 ind./ha) than Pedregal (153.75 ± 9.1 ind./ha); in both localities males density showed negative and significant correlation with the monthly precipitation values. Our results support the importance of seasonality on the tree cricket population responses.

Keywords : Chirp; Density; Sex ratio; Pedregal de San Ángel Ecological Reserve; Zapotitlán Salinas.