Fecundity and Oviposition in the Grasshoppers Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.) and Melanoplus bivittatus (Say)

Abstract

Pairs of Melanoplus sanguinipes and M. bivittatus were reared in cages and the eggs produced by each female were counted. M. sanguinipes laid an average of 328.7 eggs per female, 9.4 eggs per day, and an average of 21.8 eggs per pod. M. bivittatus laid an average of 354.9 eggs per female, 11.0 eggs per day, and 43.3 eggs per pod. M. sanguinipes produced a pod every 2.3 days and M. bivittatus one every 3.9 days. Feeding M. sanguinipes only every second day approximately doubled the longevity and oviposition period but halved the number of eggs per day.