The grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Caelifera) of the grasslands in the southern portion of the Espinhaço Range, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Neotropical mountains host much of the Earth’s biodiversity. The Espinhaço Range of Brazil consists of a fragmented series of low-altitude mountains with extensive areas of grasslands. As is often the case with grasslands, grasshoppers are abundant and diverse in this ecosystem, although they are poorly known. The study was carried in three regions of the Espinhaço Range, located at southeastern Minas Gerais state: Serra do Ouro Branco, Serra do Ribeiro, and Serra do Cipó. The sampling of grasshoppers was performed using sweep and insect nets. Forty-six species (Serra do Cipó with 39 species, Serra do Ouro Branco with 25 species, and Serra do Ribeiro with 21 species) were collected. The richest family and subfamily was Acrididae and Gomphocerinae, respectively. This study recorded 17 new species occurrences to Minas Gerais.