Population Structure and Feeding Habits of Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) on Rangeland in Kebbi State, North West Nigeria

Grasshoppers are major pests of pasture and dryland crops in the Sahel and Sudan Savanna zones of Nigeria, with periodic outbreaks causing severe damage to grazing resources and rain-fed agriculture. Kebbi State in North West Nigeria is particularly vulnerable due to its semi-arid climate and dependence on rangeland productivity for Fulani pastoralists. This study investigates the population structure and feeding habits of grasshoppers on rangeland in Kebbi State. Systematic line transects will be used to estimate grasshopper densities at ten sites during the wet and dry seasons. Sweep net collections will provide samples for morphological identification to species level. Gut content analysis using microscopic examination of fecal pellets will be conducted to determine the plant species consumed. Rangeland vegetation composition and cover will be assessed concurrently. Data will be analyzed to compare population density between seasons and between grazed and ungrazed plots. This study builds on locust monitoring data from NAFDAC and the Desert Locust Control Organization to provide local-scale population data for Kebbi. Results are expected to document five to eight dominant acridid species and show seasonal variation consistent with rainfall patterns. Keywords: grasshoppers, Acrididae, rangeland, Kebbi State, feeding habits